US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton (C) joins Kenyan dancers during a dinner party in Nairobi August 5, 2009. Picture taken August 5, 2009. [China Daily]

Besides, even as the Obama administration sought to show its commitment to Africa, Clinton had to regularly quash claims of China's increasing clout in the continent.

Not about the money

Tom Wheeler, research associate at the South African Institute of International Affairs, said that the new US administration produced "a shift in style and substance" with Africa.

"Africans have always expected countries outside the continent to solve their problems, while simultaneously resenting that aid dependency," he said.

"Blaming foreign exploitation for Africa's woes is a cop-out. Africans have to accept responsibility for their own destiny and I think the Obama-Clinton messages are correct."

Clinton came armed with examples she repeated throughout the trip - pointing to India as proof that democracy works in developing countries and hailing Botswana for ensuring its mineral wealth funds a first-class infrastructure.

Stephen Morrison, an Africa expert at Washington's Center for Strategic and International Studies, said that former president George W. Bush had started setting the new tone on Africa but that it carried a new force coming from Obama.

He said it was now up to US officials to work with Africa on moving ahead with reforms.

"The reception in Africa will be mixed," he said, but added: "I believe the tough messages, if followed with consistent policies, will win applause in much of Africa."

AFP - Reuters