Africa's Rare Earth Awakening: Geological Wealth, Political Risk, and a Race Against Time

Highlights

• Africa possesses world-class rare earth metal deposits across multiple countries with significant untapped potential.
• Strategic importance lies in diversifying global supply chains away from China's current market dominance.
• Realizing REM potential requires overcoming challenges like infrastructure gaps, political instability, and investment risks.

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A landmark study by Dr. Adeyinka Olasehinde (opens in a new tab) and colleagues at Gombe State University (opens in a new tab) and University of Jos (opens in a new tab), Nigeria, published in the Continental Journal of Applied Sciences (Vol. 20, Issue 2, 2025), presents one of the most comprehensive assessments of Africa’s rare earth metals (REMs) landscape to date. The research integrates geological, economic, and geopolitical analysis to evaluate the continent’s potential to become a serious global player in rare earth value chains.

The Lead Author—Rare Earth Treasure Trover that is Africa, But Lots of Work to Do

Key Findings

• Geological Wealth: Africa hosts world-class light and heavy rare earth deposits in countries like Malawi (Songwe Hill (opens in a new tab)), Tanzania (Ngualla), (opens in a new tab) Namibia (Lofdal (opens in a new tab)), and South Africa (Steenkampskraal (opens in a new tab)). Nigeria’s vast Younger Granite Complex and carbonatites remain underexplored.
• Strategic Potential: Africa’s REMs could support global efforts to diversify supply chains away from China, which still controls 60% of production and 85% of processing capacity.
• Geopolitical Risk: Projects such as Gakara in Burundi (opens in a new tab) demonstrate the fragility of high-grade assets in politically unstable environments, where export bans and policy reversals can shutter operations overnight.
• Policy and Infrastructure Gaps: Despite initiatives like the African Union’s Mining Vision (opens in a new tab), most countries lack beneficiation capacity, modern geological data systems, and coherent strategies to link REMs with national industrialization plans.

Implications for Investors and Policymakers

Africa’s REM potential is enormous, but capital-intensive. Development must overcome hurdles including unstable regulatory environments, limited transport infrastructure, and low investor confidence. The study urges the establishment of regional beneficiation hubs, improved governance, and strategic alliances with countries like the U.S. and EU. Modernized geological surveys and technology transfer partnerships are critical for moving beyond ore exports toward value-added materials like permanent magnets and battery alloys.

Limitations

• Several resource estimates remain preliminary or lack NI 43-101 certification.
• REM pricing volatility makes economic feasibility sensitive to market swings.
• Many governments have yet to implement comprehensive environmental safeguards or local content policies.

Corruption and political instability could also be a factor to consider. But Rare Earth Exchanges (REEx) suggests Africa’s rise is coming.

Conclusion

Africa sits atop a treasure trove of REMs, critical for clean energy and defense supply chains. But turning that promise into performance requires bold policy reform, infrastructure investment, and regional coordination. As global demand accelerates, the continent must act swiftly—or risk being another raw material supplier in a high-tech world.

Citation:

Olasehinde, A., Kwami, A.I., Sulaiman, A., Usman, M.B., Yusuf, A., & Ashano, E.C. (2025). Strategic Evaluation of Rare Earth Metals Resources in Africa: Geological Potential, Economic Viability, and Investment Risk Landscape. Continental Journal of Applied Sciences, 20(2), 40–77. https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.16098628 (opens in a new tab)

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