How overlapping US and China sanctions are complicating business in Africa

US-imposed sanctions targeting other countries and a growing list of Chinese laws aimed at countering the measures are creating a compliance minefield for African businesses dealing with the world’s top two economies.

At risk is a broad range of industries including mining, banking, telecommunications, technology, energy, infrastructure and others in which African businesses are simultaneously exposed to US and Chinese counterparties, according to analysts.

Compliance consultants covering the continent have reported a surge in inquiries by companies and investors gauging their exposure.

“China’s new regulations present a complex challenge for the continent as it is not a simple binary choice but a navigation of overlapping pressures,” said Cheta Nwanze, a partner at SBM Intelligence, a Lagos-based risk consultancy.

Investors coming into Africa were increasingly devoting significant effort and resources to ensuring their operations did not violate the sanctions and export controls, Nwanze added.

At present, the US has at least 37 active sanctions programmes with diverse targets ranging from countries to companies and individuals, according to the US Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC), a unit of the Treasury Department that manages them.