The global race for critical minerals – the building blocks of electric vehicles, renewable energy technologies and artificial intelligence – is intensifying, with the United States making a concerted push to secure supplies. But as Washington focuses on bolstering its domestic industry and diversifying supply chains away from China, a crucial question arises: who truly benefits from this recent minerals strategy? Increasingly, the answer points to a familiar pattern – African nations providing the raw materials while the economic gains accrue elsewhere.
The demand for minerals like cobalt, lithium, and graphite is soaring, driven by the transition to a green economy and the rapid advancement of AI. Much of this demand is being met by African countries rich in these resources. But, the benefits of this extraction are not equitably distributed. While the United States and other developed nations aim to secure their access to these vital materials, communities in Africa often see little improvement in their living standards, and the environmental costs can be significant. This dynamic echoes historical patterns of resource extraction on the continent, raising concerns about a new form of colonialism.
The Cobalt Pipeline: From Congo to Data Centers
The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) is a prime example of this imbalance. The country holds over 70% of the world’s cobalt reserves, a key component in lithium-ion batteries used in electric vehicles and, crucially, in the servers powering artificial intelligence. As reported in November 2025 by Africa Eye, miners in the Congo Basin dig for cobalt that ultimately ends up powering technologies across the globe. Yet, just ten kilometers from the mines, communities lack basic infrastructure like electricity and rely on diesel generators for power. Women wash ore by hand, receiving diminishing returns for their labor, while the raw materials are shipped abroad for processing and manufacturing.
This pattern isn’t limited to cobalt. In Mozambique, a graphite operation near Balama has faced production challenges and seismic issues, but continues to export pitch-black ore to Asia. The value-added processing – turning the graphite into components for advanced technologies – happens elsewhere. In Zimbabwe, a new lithium processing plant is under construction, but questions remain about whether the benefits, including jobs and skills development, will stay within the country or follow the ore overseas. The core question facing the continent is whether this new industrial chapter will rebuild communities or simply repeat the historical cycle of extraction and exit.
Policy Papers and Unfulfilled Promises
Governments across Africa are aware of the urgency. Policy papers emerging from Cape Town, Johannesburg, and Libreville speak of establishing “critical-minerals hubs,” promoting mid-stream factories, and fostering shared value with local firms. However, as Anwar El Mourjani writes, these plans matter little without tangible improvements on the ground – reliable electricity, clean water, and jobs that benefit local populations.
The US critical minerals drive, while intended to diversify supply chains and reduce reliance on China, risks exacerbating these existing inequalities. openDemocracy reported in February 2026 that Africa supplies the minerals for the tech boom, but not the gains. The focus on securing access to resources often overshadows the need for sustainable development and equitable benefit-sharing. The United States is offering incentives for domestic processing and manufacturing, but these initiatives do not necessarily translate into benefits for the countries where the minerals originate.
The US Strategy and African Concerns
The US strategy, outlined by the Biden administration, aims to create a resilient supply chain for critical minerals, essential for national security and economic competitiveness. This involves investing in domestic mining, processing, and manufacturing, as well as forging partnerships with allied nations. However, the emphasis on securing supplies can sometimes approach at the expense of addressing the social and environmental concerns in producing countries. The potential for environmental damage, labor exploitation, and community displacement remains a significant risk.
The hidden cost of this strategy, as highlighted by openDemocracy, is the perpetuation of a system where African nations provide the raw materials while the value-added processing and economic benefits are concentrated in other parts of the world. This dynamic raises questions about the fairness and sustainability of the global energy transition and the AI revolution.
Looking Ahead: Towards a More Equitable Future
The challenge lies in shifting from raw extraction to refined processing within Africa. Building local capacity for mineral processing and manufacturing is crucial for creating jobs, fostering economic growth, and ensuring that the benefits of the critical minerals boom are shared more equitably. This requires significant investment in infrastructure, education, and technology transfer.
Governments, international organizations, and private companies all have a role to play in promoting sustainable and responsible mineral development. Transparency, accountability, and community engagement are essential for ensuring that mining operations are conducted in a way that respects human rights and protects the environment. The next step will be to see if the policy discussions in Cape Town, Johannesburg, and Libreville translate into concrete action that delivers tangible benefits to the communities on the front lines of the critical minerals revolution. The US government is expected to release a revised critical minerals strategy report in late 2026, which may address these concerns.
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