Chinese residents in East Africa are concentrated in Nairobi, Dar es Salaam, Addis Ababa and Kampala. The main sectors are wholesale trade (much of the stock sold in Dar es Salaam is re-exported to landlocked neighbours), contracting on railways, roads and ports, and manufacturing in industrial parks. Nairobi and Addis Ababa are also the two most common hubs for flights from China to the rest of Africa.
On security: as of October 2026, China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) rates Tanzania, Rwanda, Djibouti and Eritrea blue (low risk), most of Kenya and Uganda yellow (medium risk), South Sudan and Burundi orange (high risk), and all of Somalia red (extremely high risk).
Main sectors and cities
| Country | Main cities | Main sectors for Chinese residents |
|---|---|---|
| Kenya | Nairobi, Mombasa, Kisumu | Trade and import-export, tourism, restaurants, clinics, real estate, contracting, manufacturing [1] |
| Tanzania | Dar es Salaam, Zanzibar, Arusha, Mwanza, Dodoma | Wholesale (re-exported to neighbours), manufacturing (ceramics, gypsum board, steel, shoes, plastics), road haulage, mining, construction [2] |
| Ethiopia | Addis Ababa; Eastern Industrial Zone at Dukem and Adama in Oromia; Hawassa; Dire Dawa | Contracting, industrial-park manufacturing, investment and trade, restaurants and supermarkets [3] |
| Uganda | Kampala, Jinja, Entebbe; Lake Albert oil region | Wholesale and retail, industrial parks, construction (expressway, hydropower dams), oil [4] |
| Rwanda | Kigali | Road construction, processing and manufacturing, trade and services |
| Djibouti | Djibouti City (port, international free trade zone) | Operations and construction staff for the port, railway and free zone [5] |
| South Sudan | Juba; oilfields in Upper Nile and Unity | Oil, construction, hotels and restaurants, supermarkets |
| Burundi, Eritrea, Somalia | Bujumbura; Asmara; Mogadishu | Aid projects, mining (Eritrea) and a few project staff |
For details, see the Kenya guide and the Tanzania guide. Population estimates for each country are in the table below this text and on the Chinese population in Africa page.
Flights from China
- Kenya: Kenya Airways began nonstop Nairobi–Guangzhou flights in 2013. China Southern has flown Guangzhou–Nairobi nonstop since August 2015 and added Changsha–Nairobi in June 2019. From Beijing or Shanghai you change in Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Doha or Addis Ababa [1].
- Ethiopian Airlines flies from Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou and Chengdu to Addis Ababa, with onward connections across Africa [6].
- Djibouti: usually via Addis Ababa, Dubai, Doha, Istanbul or Paris [5].
This information comes from MOFCOM’s 2025 country guides. Check with the airline when booking.
The EAC and other regional arrangements
- The East African Community (EAC) has eight Partner States: Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda, Rwanda, Burundi, South Sudan (joined 2016), DR Congo (joined 2022) and Somalia [7]. Ethiopia, Djibouti and Eritrea are not members.
- Since 1 July 2022 the EAC has applied a four-band common external tariff of 0%, 10%, 25% and 35% [1]. Goods imported from China into Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda and the other members are largely taxed under the same schedule.
- The East Africa Tourist Visa covers Uganda, Kenya and Rwanda. It costs US$100, is valid for 90 days, allows multiple entries and is for tourism only; employment is prohibited [8]. To work or run a business you still need each country’s work permit.
- Since 1 December 2024 China has applied zero tariffs on 100% of tariff lines for 33 African least developed countries it has diplomatic ties with, and from 1 May 2026 it applies zero tariffs to the other 20 African countries it has ties with, for two years [9].
Security overview
| MFA risk level (as of October 2026) | Country or area |
|---|---|
| Red (extremely high risk) | All of Somalia [12]; Mandera, Wajir, Garissa and Lamu counties in Kenya [10]; five areas of Ethiopia, including parts of Amhara and Oromia [11] |
| Orange (high risk) | South Sudan; Burundi, especially areas bordering DR Congo including Bujumbura [13]; five other areas of Ethiopia |
| Yellow (medium risk) | The rest of Kenya and Ethiopia (including Nairobi and Addis Ababa); Uganda |
| Blue (low risk) | Tanzania, Rwanda, Djibouti, Eritrea |
Risk levels change. If you are robbed, kidnapped or arrested, see Consular protection and the 12308 hotline.
References
- Country (Region) Guide for Outward Investment and Cooperation: Kenya (2025 edition) (Ministry of Commerce of China, 2025)
- Country (Region) Guide for Outward Investment and Cooperation: Tanzania (2025 edition) (Ministry of Commerce of China, 2025)
- Country (Region) Guide for Outward Investment and Cooperation: Ethiopia (2025 edition) (Ministry of Commerce of China, 2025)
- Country (Region) Guide for Outward Investment and Cooperation: Uganda (2025 edition) (Ministry of Commerce of China, 2025)
- Country (Region) Guide for Outward Investment and Cooperation: Djibouti (2025 edition) (Ministry of Commerce of China, 2025)
- Country (Region) Guide for Outward Investment and Cooperation: Madagascar (2025 edition) (Ministry of Commerce of China, 2025)
- EAC Partner States (EAC Secretariat, accessed October 2026)
- East African Tourist Visa (Directorate of Citizenship and Immigration Control, Uganda, accessed October 2026)
- China to apply zero tariffs to all African countries with diplomatic ties from 1 May 2026 (Xinhua / gov.cn, 2026)
- China Consular Service Network: Kenya country profile and travel risk level (Ministry of Foreign Affairs of China, accessed October 2026)
- China Consular Service Network: Ethiopia country profile and travel risk level (Ministry of Foreign Affairs of China, accessed October 2026)
- China Consular Service Network: Somalia country profile and travel risk level (Ministry of Foreign Affairs of China, accessed October 2026)
- China Consular Service Network: Burundi country profile and travel risk level (Ministry of Foreign Affairs of China, accessed October 2026)
Countries in this region
| Country | Chinese population (est.) | Year |
|---|---|---|
| Kenya | ~20,000–50,000 | 2025 |
| Tanzania | ~20,000–30,000 | 2025 |
| Uganda | ~10,000–20,000 | 2025 |
| Ethiopia | ~8,000–20,000 | 2025 |
| Rwanda | ~2,000–3,000 | 2025 |
| South Sudan | ~500–1,500 (estimate) | 2013/2025 |
| Djibouti | ~800 | 2025 |
| Eritrea | ~300–500 | 2025 |
| Burundi | ~300 | 2025 |
| Somalia | Under 100 (no count) | 2024 |