Trusts and Doubts in Africa Over Belt and Road Initiative: A Thematic Content Analysis of Opinions in Ethiopian Twittersphere

Abstract

China`s Belt and Road Initiative is a massive infrastructural project that Ethiopia is encompassed. Yet, in Ethiopia, public opinion over the subject has never been homogenous as there are both apparent faiths that the initiative would positively contribute to Ethiopia’s economy, and suspicions that it is merely China`s veiled ambition to accelerate its expansion in global economy and politics, intensifying the concerns that China will not be any different from former colonial powers for African nations. Besides mainstream media coverage, much of the debate over this initiative has increasingly happened on social networking sites as attributable to their relative accessibility and autonomy. By employing a thematic content analysis of Twitter contents generated by opinion technicians during the 2019 Belt and Road Initiative Forum in Beijing, this article examines how opinion technicians over the Ethiopian Twittersphere discuss the initiative.

The Sustainable Development and Economic Impact of China’s Belt and Road Initiative in Ethiopia

“…The Chinese companies are attracted by the Ethiopian government to invest in the country which is a multidimensional achievement in the development sectors. China's companies have benefited to incorporate heavy production units because of the nature of cheap labor availability in Ethiopia as it reduces production costs [52]. China's investment in Ethiopia boosted the relationship.…”