The United States has long been a global leader in technology and innovation, but when it comes to critical minerals, the country is heavily reliant on imports. This overreliance poses a significant risk to our national security and economic stability. In order to address this issue, the United States must refine its Africa policy with a focus on critical minerals, according to a recent report from the Washington-based United States Institute of Peace (USIP).
The report highlights the urgent need for the United States to boost its diplomatic and commercial presence in African mining hubs. This is crucial to safeguard against export controls and market manipulation by geopolitical competitors, particularly the People’s Republic of China. The USIP report also emphasizes the importance of investing in “commercial diplomacy” in Africa, in order to fully realize the potential benefits of partnerships with key countries in the region.
One such partnership is the memorandum of understanding signed with the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and Zambia, following the U.S.-Africa Leaders Summit in December 2022. This agreement aims to jointly develop a supply chain for electric vehicle batteries, with the DRC producing more than 70% of the world’s cobalt and Zambia being the world’s sixth-largest copper producer and second-largest cobalt producer in Africa.
In order to effectively implement this partnership and others like it, the USIP report recommends increasing the physical presence of diplomatic and commercial officers in mining centers. This includes reopening a U.S. consulate in Lubumbashi, the capital of the mineral-rich Katanga Province and the second-largest city in the DRC. This move would not only demonstrate the United States’ commitment to strengthening its relationship with the DRC, but also allow for closer collaboration with key players in the mining industry, such as Gécamines, the Congolese state mining company.
The closure of the U.S. consulate in Lubumbashi in the mid-1990s was a result of the end of the Cold War and a shift in priorities and resources. However, with the growing importance of critical minerals and the potential for economic growth and stability in the region, it is crucial for the United States to have a physical presence in this strategic location.
In addition to increasing its presence in mining centers, the USIP report also recommends leveraging existing U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) programs to assist African countries with rule-of-law and fiscal transparency efforts. This will not only promote good governance and responsible mining practices, but also create a more conducive environment for U.S. companies to invest in the region.
Furthermore, the report suggests expanding the membership of the Minerals Security Partnership (MSP) to include African partners. Launched in June 2022, the MSP is a collaboration of 14 countries and the European Union to catalyze public and private investment in responsible critical minerals supply chains globally. By including African nations in this partnership, the United States can work together with key players in the region to address critical mineral supply chain challenges and promote sustainable development.
U.S. officials have also emphasized the importance of assisting African nations in building technical capacity in the mining sector. This is crucial for the long-term sustainability of critical mineral supply chains and will help African countries to fully benefit from their natural resources.
The United States is not alone in its efforts to address critical mineral supply chain challenges. The MSP members represent more than 50% of global gross domestic product and are currently involved in 23 projects that involve the extraction and processing of critical minerals. This collaboration is crucial for scaling up critical mineral supply chains and deploying clean technologies more quickly and effectively.
In a recent MSP forum in Leuven, Belgium, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken highlighted the growing demand for critical minerals, stating that “by 2040, demand for lithium is expected to grow by more than 40%, and graphite, cobalt, and nickel demand is set to grow 20 to 25 times.” This further emphasizes the urgency for the United States to refine its Africa policy and strengthen its partnerships in the region.
In conclusion, the USIP report highlights the need for the United States to prioritize critical minerals in its Africa policy and take concrete steps to boost its diplomatic and commercial presence in African mining hubs. By doing so, the United States can safeguard its national security and economic stability, while also promoting sustainable development and strengthening partnerships with key countries in the region. The time to act is now, and the United States must lead the way in securing critical minerals
