Kenya first stop in IMF boss Africa visit

As Africa’s economic superpower, South Africa is also of huge strategic significance to the fund.

“The selection of countries he will be touring may be out of their strategic importance or specific issues he may want to address with them,” said Robert Shaw, an independent economic consultant and formerly of the Institute of Economic Affairs.

“The tour will ,however, not be just about the countries that the director visits, there will definitely be numerous interactions with leaders from across the borders in all regions that he will visit,” added Shaw.

Some analysts see Mr Strauss-Kahn’s planned tour as probably his last visit to the continent before his rumoured resignation as director and re-entry into French politics.