China dismisses report by French magazine that it hacked AU hqtrs

A report by French newspaper Le Monde which claimed that Beijing hacked the African Union headquarters in the Ethiopian capital of Addis Abbaba has been denied by China.

According to the report by Le Monde quoting anonymous AU sources, data from computers in the Chinese-built building had been transferred nightly to Chinese servers for five years.

The report went on to further state that after the massive hack was discovered a year ago, the building’s IT system including servers was changed, and during a sweep for bugs after the discovery, microphones hidden in desks and walls were also detected and removed.

However, the report was denied by China through its ambassador to the AU, Kuang Weilin, who called the article “ridiculous and preposterous” and said its publication was intended to put pressure on relations between Beijing and the continent.

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“China-Africa relations have brought about benefits and a lot of opportunities. Africans are happy with it. Others are not.”

Asked who, he said: “People in the West. They are not used to it and they are simply not comfortable with this.”

The $200 million headquarters was fully funded and built by China and opened to great fanfare in 2012. It was seen as a symbol of Beijing’s thrust for influence in Africa, and access to the continent’s natural resources.

 

 

 

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