SCO and Eastern Economic Forum Shake Up World Order With Implications for Africa

The SCO summit in Beijing and the 10th Eastern Economic Forum in Vladivostok showcased how China, Russia, and their partners are redrawing global alignments. From pipeline projects and new development banks to collective opposition to unilateral sanctions, the message was unmistakable: alternatives to Western-led systems are here. Experts speaking to Global South Pole explored what this means for Africa.

In his analysis, Dannis Masibo, Chairperson of the China International Commercial Alliance in East Africa, emphasized that the SCO summit signals a decisive break from Western dominance. He highlighted that Africa now has new options in financing, technology, and energy partnerships, with the creation of the SCO Development Bank and deals like the Power of Siberia-2 pipeline pointing to a reconfigured global market.

“This is a global geopolitical earthquake […] as the summit pushed for a multipolar global order that centers on the Global South, directly challenging the US dominance. And when it comes to institutional development, the launching of a global governance initiative, the GCI, which is going to promote a fairer, more inclusive global institution. And of course, the other thing is the Shanghai Cooperation Organization development bank, which is actually going to give grants and loans from China and strengthen cooperation in energy, technology, and security. What does this mean for Africa? It means more financing options. We are going to get loans; we are going to get grants from China and from the Shanghai Corporation Organization,” Masibo explained.

Building on that perspective, Dr. Cliff Mboya, a researcher at the Center for Africa-China Studies, University of Johannesburg, South Africa, pointed to the SCO, BRICS, and the G20 as vital platforms giving Global South countries a stronger collective voice. He stressed that these frameworks allow Africa and its partners to push back against exclusivity and hypocrisy in global governance, while creating room for South–South development and economic integration.

“The SCO, BRICS, and G20 provide a collective voice for Global South countries to push back against Western-dominated institutions and advance their agency with the support of emerging powers […] The SCO summit outcomes are important alternative avenues and opportunities for African countries to pursue their economic and political interests,” Mboya noted.

Adding another layer, Rilwan Omar Massoud, researcher at the Department of Political Science and International Studies, Ahmadu Bello University, Nigeria, underlined that the SCO summit marked a renewed commitment to multilateralism. He pointed to Xi Jinping’s Global Governance Initiative, a proposed SCO Development Bank, and China’s pledge of $280 billion for development as clear signals that developing nations are being empowered to engage in global politics on more equal terms.

“The Shanghai Cooperation Organization Summit […] had some very profound and important initiatives. The Global Governance Initiative is one of the items of the summit that came out, and it will bring out the voice of developing countries […] African countries stand to benefit economically and politically from this renewed push for multilateralism,” Massoud said.

To listen to what the experts had to say, tune in to the Global South Pole podcast, brought to you by Sputnik Africa.

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