Thread by @daithaigilbert

For the first time ever, Africans saw their leaders stand up to #China over racist attacks against Africans in Guangzhou.

But then Beijing's propaganda machine kicked into action...

vice.com/en_us/article/…

Viral videos from #Guangzhou saw ordinary Africans’ force their governments to act.

"When this all began, we saw for the first time, the power of social media in uniting African governments to mount a united voice in opposition to China,” @eolander

vice.com/en_us/article/…

When @femigbaja, Nigeria’s speaker of parliament, published a video of his meeting with a Chinese ambassador, it was seen as a turning point.

It was the first time an African leader was seen publicly rebuking a Chinese diplomat

vice.com/en_us/article/…

But then Beijing’s propaganda machine kicked into gear, with officials fanning out across the continent.

And within days, the anger among African governments all but disappeared.

vice.com/en_us/article/…

However, on the ground, “the anger is still palpable” according to @tsunga_arnold who said that “people want to see more than diplomatic language but actual measurable action.”

vice.com/en_us/article/…

According to @anthastorm, racial discrimination of Africans in China is nothing new, and is something African leaders have long known about.

“As an African, I actually feel let down by our leaders. There's nothing new about what is going on.”

vice.com/en_us/article/…

But this is not the end. Civil society & human rights groups, as well as ordinary Africans, continue to raise the issue @amnesty’s @sanuxiii says:

"China must not get away with this and people will not stop talking about it until justice is done.”

vice.com/en_us/article/…