The rise of China in Africa: a curse or a blessing?

Introduction
China`s interest in Africa is far from recent. Its engagement in Africa`s Sub-Saharan countries is becoming a most significant and meaningful trend for the continent. It is a sign of the new “china fever” that over 200.000 Chinese are thought to be currently living in Africa , mainly, in Cameroon, Republic of Guinea, Zimbabwe, Angola, Nigeria, Ghana and even in Ivory Coast where there are existing political troubles. There are now direct air links between Angola and the Chinese People Republic (PRC) and between Zimbabwe and (RPC). Chinese president Hu Jintao makes frequent High-level visits to Africa.

After a virtual absence, Beijing is back to Africa. The impact of his ubiquitous presence, the low coast of its product and services, and a total absence of conditionality are creating a true “China`s model” throughout the African Continent, which exchanges raw materials for consumer goods. Beyond the quantitative impact of growing aid, finance, trade and investment flows, this presence may have significant qualitative impacts on African development, positive or negative.

But this largely predatory system is increasingly been questioned in Africa itself, and raises several questions of china`s burgeoning investment and developmental presence in Sub-Saharan Africa, namely: what benefit will the African people get from their respective countries` business deals with China? Will the population see an improvement in transparency of governance, environmental impact, Human rights issues or the growth of economic indicator?

This essay will examine implications and impact of Chinese investment in Africa by first considering in short, the history of Sino-African Relations. In addition the paper will attempt to provide systematic critique by examining this in relation to an emblematic case study - Cameroon. The objective of this study is to bring out the coast of African economic growth from