This study sheds light on the strategies of China and India in Africa by analyzing the two countries' activities to ensure their national interests. Both China and India have interests in terms of securing access to natural resources, expanding markets, getting support in multilateral institutions, ensuring maritime trade, protecting their diaspora, and shaping a positive image in Africa. India also seeks to balance against Chinese power, while China projects its power more generally in the region. China is increasingly keen on spreading its developmental model and politics of norms. Both states allocate substantial resources to their Africa strategies and engage economically, politically and militarily in the region. The countries pursue both bilateral and multilateral channels, while acting through old as well as new institutions. The two states seek to enhance their soft power by portraying themselves as more trustworthy partners than Western actors. China and India also put more emphasis on defense and security, reflected in both words and deeds. While China bases its engagement on large financial resources, India seeks to compensate for resource deficiencies by cooperating with other external actors. Overall, China and India are expected to increase their influence in Africa.