CHINESE GANGS IN AFRICA:

Sarah,

I write a lot about China, I write a lot about Africa, and I write a lot about crime.  So I definitely can’t pass up a story about Chinese gangsters in Africa.  Last week, 37 people were extradited from Angola to China to face charges of kidnapping, armed robbery, human trafficking, and extortion.  Let’s start the story with Angola:

 

Angola:

Angola lies on the Atlantic Coast in Southern Africa.  Portugal arrived in Angola as early as 1500 because Angola was on the way to India and the Portuguese were some of the first explorers.  You might remember from 4^th grade that Bartolomeu Dias, a Portuguese explorer, was the first to round the Cape of Africa.

Portugal ruled Angola for about 500 years and engaged in the slave trade enthusiastically.  Portugal spent most of this time near the coast, but around 1900 they attempted to consolidate their hold on the whole country.  In 1961, a war for independence broke out and lasted until 1974.  Immediately after Portugal left, a far more brutal internal civil war erupted and lasted until 2002.  So basically, the country was at war from the time of JFK’s presidency all the way to the attacks on 9/11.

Since the end of the civil war, Angola’s economy has grown incredibly fast.  This is because the country has an extraordinary amount of oil, diamonds, copper, and gold.  Almost all of Angola’s economic growth stems for the export of these commodities.

Unfortunately, the wealth from these exports has remained in the hands the elite.  A handful of powerful government officials and insiders have managed to enrich themselves at the expense of the rest of the population.  As a result, Angola suffers from staggering social inequality.  The differences between the cities and the countryside are arguably more dramatic than anywhere else in the world.  This rural poverty is compounded by the fact that the countryside is still littered with landmines from 40 years of war.

China:

When peace came, the Chinese entered and brokered deals with Angola’s corrupt government.  Since 2002, China has loaned Angola billions of dollars and managed to become Angola’s main trading partner.  As a result, most of Angola’s oil, gold, and copper end up in China. 

Because of this trade, many Chinese have migrated to the country and thousands of Chinese citizens currently live there.  However, not all of these migrants are successful Chinese businessmen.  Many are poorer, uneducated Chinese citizens that have roots in Chinese gang culture.

These gangsters thrive in Africa because of a general lack of security and political instability.  It’s much easier to kidnap and ransom a wealthy businessman in Angola than in Beijing.  Accordingly, many businessmen operating in Angola are forced to hire bodyguards and buy bullet proof cars.  Some have even abandoned their businesses.  Further, the gangsters allegedly operate human trafficking schemes in which young women are promised jobs in Africa but are immediately sold into prostitution once they arrive.

Now China is taking steps to fight back and defend its image.  It sent a special police force to Angola to target 12 different gangs and rescue victims.  As a result of their efforts, 14 victims were freed and 37 Chinese gangsters are now back in China and awaiting trial.

Bottom line: Exporting crime to Africa?  That seems really messed up.  Also, I bet the officers in that special Chinese police force were total bad asses.  This story would make a great action movie.