Ufahamu: A Journal of African Studies

China’s increasing role in Africa has for almost five years now become a recurrent theme of conversation within academic and geostrategic circles. China definitely represents an important game changer in the region as its growing interests in terms of oil and mineral resources and the strategy aiming at ensuring a long-term access to them affect Western countries fundamental relations with the continent. And in their efforts to contain China’s momentum in Africa, Western countries can find in international financial institutions like the IMF an efficient pressure tool, which in the midst of a global financial crisis, can be used to counter China’s political and economic offensives into African oil and mineral resources rich countries such as DR Congo.