Brazzaville — May 28, 2026 — Africa is stepping up efforts to regulate and process its critical minerals, but experts warn the continent must move beyond reactive policies to anticipate global industrial shifts. Countries like Zimbabwe, the Democratic Republic of Congo, and Guinea are tightening controls on lithium, cobalt, and bauxite exports, aiming to capture more value by processing locally rather than exporting raw materials.
For decades, African minerals have left the continent in raw form, only to return as high‑value products such as batteries and industrial components. While new regulations and local processing requirements mark progress, the challenge lies in anticipating future demand linked to artificial intelligence, defense technologies, energy storage, and next‑generation batteries.
China’s dominance in lithium illustrates the risk of falling behind. Years before global demand surged, Beijing had already invested in refining capacity, chemical industries, and battery factories. By the time prices spiked, China’s supply chains were positioned to lead — leaving African projects struggling to catch up.
The op‑ed argues that Africa’s deeper challenge is not just corruption or weak contracts, but the lack of institutions dedicated to long‑term market modeling and strategic foresight. Without this, the continent risks reacting to cycles rather than shaping them.
Critical minerals could provide Africa with a historic lever in the global economy. To seize the opportunity, governments must invest in research, planning, and industrial transformation, ensuring they are prepared for the next wave of technological change rather than simply responding to it
