CHINA’S STRATEGIC ENGAGEMENT AS A ROADMAP TO CAMEROON’S ECONOMIC INDEPENDENCE

Abstract

This study critically examines China’s strategic economic engagement with Cameroon, focusing on the long-term implications for the country's economic independence. Using Dependency Theory as the theoretical framework, the study explores how China’s investments, particularly in infrastructure and energy production, have provided immediate benefits but also reinforced Cameroon’s economic dependency. While these investments have led to the development of crucial infrastructure, such as roads, ports, and hydropower facilities, they have been financed predominantly through debt-backed loans, often secured by resource-backed agreements that tie Cameroon’s future economic growth to Chinese capital. The research reveals how China’s extractive investments in sectors like oil, timber, and mining have deepened Cameroon’s reliance on natural resources, stifling the growth of local industries and preventing economic diversification. This dependency on foreign financing and extractive industries mirrors the core-periphery dynamics identified in Dependency Theory, where peripheral nations like Cameroon remain locked in cycles of resource extraction, with the benefits flowing outward to the core nations, rather than fostering sustainable, locally-driven economic growth. The study argues that China’s engagement in Cameroon does not significantly contribute to the country’s economic sovereignty, but rather perpetuates patterns of neocolonial exploitation, where Cameroon’s role as a raw material exporter is maintained. In response to these findings, the study offers policy recommendations aimed at strengthening Cameroon’s economic sovereignty, focusing on diversification, sustainable debt management, and inclusive governance. It also proposes strategies for leveraging China’s investments in a way that promotes long-term growth and reduces economic dependence. This research contributes to the growing body of literature on China-Africa relations, offering a critical perspective on the risks of neocolonialism in Africa and providing insights into how Cameroon can navigate its relationship with China to achieve true economic independence.