Besides the BRI, China has other programs that reflects China's broader strategy of international development cooperation and economic engagement. As of August , [update] cooperation documents have been signed with countries and 32 international organisations. As of August , China's official Belt and Road website lists 52 African countries who have signed onto an agreement or understanding with the One Belt One Road initiative.
Many African countries are also in need of better infrastructure, which is still seen as a major barrier to development in the region. In , only 43 percent of Africans had access to electricity, 48 percent had access to paved roads, and 6 percent of agricultural land was irrigated. Some countries like Djibouti, Kenya and Uganda have issued warnings over the ballooning debt, following the case of the Magampura Mahinda Rajapaksa Port transfer in Sri Lanka.
To build many of the construction projects, China has sent a large number of Chinese workers to developing countries. However, this has become a point of controversy especially in Africa, as high unemployment rates continue to hurt the large young population. China is now developing Algeria's El Hamdania Central Port, Algeria's largest and first deep-water port and the second deep-water port in Africa. China's economic relations with Djibouti have extended to increased military involvement in the Horn of Africa region.
Among the numerous Djibouti infrastructure projects, China built a military base and has deployed ships from its South Sea Fleet.
Djibouti's base is a sign of China's growing naval presence across the globe. Egypt has traditionally had a very strong relationship with China, so when China first announced its Belt and Road Initiative, Egypt was one of the first countries to sign onto the agreement. Following the instability from the Arab Spring protests, China was one of few countries willing to provide loans and financial support to Egypt.
