Tillerson's trip will not harm China's relations with Africa

Ahead of his first official visit to Sub-Saharan Africa, US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson confessed that the continent's rapid economic growth and fast-rising population mean the United States views Africa's future as "increasingly linked" to its own.

Which is no doubt why he felt the need to issue a warning to the host countries about China's growing political and economic influence on the continent, something he also did last month before his visit to Latin America.

While partnerships with his country promote "good governance", those with China "encourage dependency", he said. In his words, Beijing is entrapping African governments with "opaque contracts, predatory loan practices, and corrupt deals that mire nations in debt".