The competition for critical minerals in Africa is fueling geopolitical rivalries and shaping economic policies by making the continent a crucial battleground for global powers seeking to secure the resources needed for the global energy transition.

This new "scramble for Africa" is driven by the massive demand for minerals like cobalt, lithium, and rare earth elements, which are essential for electric vehicles, batteries, and renewable energy technologies.

Geopolitical Rivalries-

The global demand for strategic resources is intensifying competition between major powers, each with different strategies for engagement.

• China's Dominance: China has been a primary player in Africa's resource sector for decades, with its strategy primarily focused on economic investment. Through initiatives like the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), China funds large-scale infrastructure projects—such as ports and railways—in exchange for access to mineral resources. This approach allows Beijing to secure its supply chains and gain significant political and economic influence over African nations.

• The West's Response: The United States and European nations are attempting to counter China's influence by offering alternatives. The US-backed Lobito Corridor project, for instance, aims to create a new trade route to transport critical minerals from landlocked countries like the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and Zambia to the Atlantic coast, providing a supply chain that is not exclusively controlled by China. This is part of a broader strategy to diversify supply chains and reduce reliance on a single source.

• Russia's Role: Russia's influence is more focused on security and political leverage. It provides arms and military training to African governments, sometimes through private military contractors, in exchange for access to mineral concessions and diplomatic support. This approach allows Russia to gain a foothold in resource-rich countries while often bypassing democratic and human rights concerns.

Economic Policies on the African Continent-

For African nations, this competition presents a double-edged sword, offering both opportunities for development and significant challenges.

• Policy of Resource Nationalism: To capture more value from their resources, many African nations are adopting policies of "resource nationalism." Countries like Tanzania and Zimbabwe have imposed export restrictions on raw minerals to promote domestic processing and manufacturing. The goal is to move up the value chain by creating local industries for refining and producing batteries, rather than just exporting unprocessed raw materials.

• Bargaining Power: The intense competition gives African countries new leverage. With multiple external powers vying for access, African nations can negotiate better terms on investments, loans, and infrastructure projects. This allows them to diversify their partnerships beyond traditional colonial powers and secure deals that may include technology transfer and job creation.

• Risk of the "Resource Curse": Despite their vast mineral wealth, many African nations have struggled to translate these resources into broad-based economic prosperity. This is often referred to as the "resource curse", where countries with abundant natural resources experience slower economic growth, increased corruption, and political instability. The influx of foreign investment can exacerbate this, as it often benefits a small elite and fuels conflict over control of resource revenues.