AFRICA is better prepared to benefit from today’s critical minerals boom than during past commodity cycles, thanks to robust policy frameworks and a sharper focus on local value addition, according to a senior United Nations economist.
John R. Sloan, from the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA), said the continent now has stronger tools to ensure that its mineral wealth contributes meaningfully to industrialisation and sustainable development.
‘Africa has learnt from the past. Today, we have regional frameworks that put beneficiation, transparency and long-term planning at the centre of mineral governance,’ Sloan said during a Critical Minerals Africa Group (CMAG) webinar held on May 19.
Strategic minerals, strategic moment
The online session, titled Navigating Geopolitics and Market Shifts in Africa’s Critical Minerals Sector, drew stakeholders from across the mining, policy, and investment sectors. It focused on cobalt supply chains, particularly in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), and Africa’s positioning amid growing global trade tensions.
The event was chaired by Dr Theo Acheampong, CMAG’s Head of Markets and Research, and featured expert insights from Christopher Vandome (Chatham House), Dinah McLeod (Cobalt Institute), and UNECA’s Sloan.
‘The strategic importance of Africa’s mineral resources is only growing,’ said Acheampong. ‘This webinar highlighted the urgency for African nations to build resilient, value-added industries that can withstand external shocks and political shifts.’
Policy frameworks shift the narrative
Sloan cited the Africa Mining Vision and the Green Minerals Strategy as central to a new approach that emphasises local processing, sustainable practices, and regional collaboration. He argued that these strategies are already helping countries negotiate better terms with investors and capture more of the downstream value.
In recent weeks, governments across Africa — including South Africa — have approved national Critical Minerals Strategies, signalling a more assertive stance on how mineral resources are managed.
Cobalt, tariffs, and global tension
The webinar underscored how tariff regimes, export bans, and US-China trade tensions are reshaping the investment landscape for African mining. With the DRC producing over 70 percent of the world’s cobalt, panellists agreed that the region is central to the energy transition, especially in batteries and green technologies.
Dinah McLeod of the Cobalt Institute warned that ethical sourcing and transparency must be part of any sustainable path forward. ‘End users and investors are increasingly scrutinising where minerals come from and how they’re mined. Africa has a chance to lead on standards,’ she said.
Christopher Vandome added that while investment is flowing, policy coherence and regional cooperation are essential for long-term gains. ‘Without strategic governance, Africa risks repeating past mistakes,’ he cautioned.
CMAG puts Africa at the centre
CMAG’s Acheampong said events like this are core to the group’s mission: ‘Our role is to place Africa firmly at the heart of international discussions around critical minerals and supply chains.’
The group will continue convening thought leaders as African countries race to develop processing capacity, regulatory tools, and infrastructure that can help them rise up the value chain.
‘This time,’ Sloan concluded, ‘Africa is entering the global race for critical minerals on stronger footing — and with a clearer vision.’
