Us races to secure african critical minerals as china dominance sparks supply chain concerns

The United States is rapidly expanding partnerships with African nations to secure access to critical minerals essential for clean energy technologies, as concerns grow over China’s overwhelming control of global mineral processing. At the Critical Minerals Ministerial summit on February 4, more than 50 countries gathered to discuss diversifying supply chains for materials used in electric vehicles, solar panels, and semiconductors.

Guinea and Morocco became the latest African nations to sign memorandums of understanding with the US, joining the Democratic Republic of Congo and Rwanda, which inked similar deals in December. Guinea brings significant bauxite and iron ore reserves to the partnership, while Morocco adds to a growing network of African mineral suppliers seeking alternatives to Chinese-dominated markets.

The urgency behind these agreements becomes clear when examining China’s market dominance. According to the International Energy Agency, China controls most global processing of copper, lithium, cobalt, graphite, and rare earth minerals – all crucial components for the clean energy transition. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio warned that having critical mineral supplies “heavily concentrated in the hands of one country” creates dangerous geopolitical leverage, emphasizing the need for “reliable and diverse” supply chains.

However, the Democratic Republic of Congo deal faces growing scrutiny despite the broader African momentum. As the world’s largest cobalt producer, the DRC’s partnership is strategically vital, but concerns over mining practices and benefit distribution continue to generate debate about whether these agreements truly serve African interests or primarily benefit US strategic goals.