China waives debt for 17 African countries

China has pledged to forgive 23 interest free loans to 17 African countries in an effort to foster stronger economic ties with Africa. The announcement was made by the Chinese Foreign Minister, Wang Yi, in his address at a recently held Forum on China-Africa Cooperation. It comes amid accusations that Beijing is trapping countries in debt in the hope of one day grabbing strategic assets. Hassan Arouni speaks to Professor Steve Tsang, director of the SOAS China Institute.

Also in the programme Tanzania begins a weeklong population census and gives citizens a public holiday so that they can participate in the process and the Nigerian singer, Fireboy, tells Focus on Africa about his new album, Playboy.

(Photo: Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi. Credit: Reuters)