Based on a field survey, this article puts into perspective the scale of the Chinese presence in Mali and Senegal. As in Europe, most of these traders belong to the Chinese urban middle class that has been made more fragile by the economic transition. They operate alone, with no support from the Chinese State or its embassies. Although supply chains have been restructured, Chinese traders are not the only ambassadors of Chinese products. African traders are not without resources in the face of this new competition, which remains confined to a limited number of sectors.