CHINA'S ODA TO AFRICAN COUNTRIES

China's ambitions in Africa have undergone a marked shift over the past 70 years, from influencing the oneChina policy to meeting the raw material needs of the Chinese economy. In addition, Africa has developed into an important sales market for Chinese exports. Furthermore, through the use of soft power, China is expanding its political influence in the region. China's controversial role in Africa entails the risks of dependence on raw materials, the hindrance of African industrialization processes and the deterioration of the human rights situation, as well as some opportunities for the continent. Chinese companies create jobs and improve the living conditions of the poorer sections of the population in Africa by expanding the infrastructure and lowering prices for consumer goods. In addition, China's development model as an alternative to what the West has to offer gives Africa's political decision-makers more room for negotiation. The application of the schemata of the dependency theory to describe the dependency relationships between China and Africa has turned out to be problematic due to the complexity of the Chinese engagement.