Clinton's remarks on her swing through the region are the first time that the American government has come out so openly to criticize China's investments, business interests and foreign assistance to Africa and to call on African governments to shun, as she put it, "easy-to-access Chinese money."

Chinese companies including Huawei Technologies and Zhongxing Technology (ZTE) have been awarded more telecom and networking contracts in the region than any other renowned telecom companies in the world. Chinese companies have also been involved in the mineral extraction sector, as well as telecom.

In Lusaka, Zambia, last week Clinton said the U.S. is concerned that China's foreign assistance and investment in Africa have not been consistent with generally accepted international norms of transparency and good governance.

"China has not always utilized the talents of the African people in pursuing its business interests," Clinton told reporters in Lusaka during a joint media briefing. She stressed, however, "the United States does not see these Chinese interests as inherently incompatible with our own."

Nevertheless, Clinton's remarks highlighted recent history in which Chinese companies have been charged with corruption in bids taking place in countries including Zambia, Uganda and Sierra Leone. In Uganda the government reached the point of suspending the laying of fiber optics by Huawei Technologies because of corruption allegations.