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A Critical View on Western Attempts to Secure African Critical Minerals – the Devil May be in the Details

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Highlights

  • A 1,289-kilometer railway project backed by the US and EU to counter China’s control of critical mineral supply chains in Africa
  • Aims to enhance regional economic integration
  • Reduces transportation costs
  • Provides alternative trade routes from mineral-rich regions
  • Highlights the geopolitical competition for access to Africa’s significant mineral reserves
  • Focus on copper and cobalt resources

In her article “Accessing Africa’s Critical Raw Materials,” African affairs expert Teresa Nogueira Pinto examines the strategic significance of the Lobito Corridor megaproject, a 1,289-kilometer railway intended to connect mining regions in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and Zambia to Angola’s port of Lobito. She posits that this initiative, backed by the United States and the European Union, aims to counter China’s dominance in critical mineral supply chains by providing alternative routes to global markets.

The recent piece was published in GIS Reports Online (opens in a new tab).  Pinto argues that the Lobito Corridor could enhance regional integration, reduce transportation costs, and stimulate economic growth in interconnected sectors such as agriculture and digital communications. She highlights that Africa holds approximately 30% of the world’s mineral reserves, with the DRC’s Kolwezi region being a significant source of copper and cobalt. The article underscores China’s current control over a substantial portion of these resources and suggests that Western-backed infrastructure projects like the Lobito Corridor could diminish this reliance.

Unfolding Dynamics

Ms. Pinto does point to some positive unfolding dynamics. For instance, in 2022, during the U.S.-Africa Leaders’ Summit, the U.S., DRC, and Zambia announced a memorandum of understanding (opens in a new tab) on electric vehicle battery value chains. The Lobito Atlantic Railway consortium, comprising the Portuguese construction group Mota-Engil, the Belgian railroad operator Vecturis, and the French commodities supplier Trafigura, was awarded a 30-year concession to operate the Benguela railway and its mineral terminal. 

Is the Devil in the Assumptions?

However, Pinto’s analysis appears to rest on several assumptions that warrant scrutiny. She presumes that the mere establishment of alternative trade routes will effectively counter China’s entrenched influence in Africa’s mining sectors. This overlooks the depth of China’s investments and the complex web of political and economic relationships it has cultivated over decades. Moreover, the article seems to assume that Western interventions are inherently beneficial and welcomed by African nations, potentially underestimating local agency and the desire for self-determination.

Pinto’s perspective may also be influenced by a Western-centric bias, framing the issue primarily through the lens of U.S. and EU strategic interests. This viewpoint risks oversimplifying African countries’ diverse aspirations and challenges, reducing them to pawns in a larger geopolitical game. Such a narrative can inadvertently perpetuate a form of economic paternalism, where external powers’ agendas overshadow African agency.

Note GIS Reports Online was founded in 2011 by H.S.H. Prince Michael of Liechtenstein (opens in a new tab). The group’s primary mission is to provide business leaders, senior managers, and policymakers with genuine and relevant geopolitical forecasts based on scenarios. Unlike journalistic or media products, GIS focuses on providing intelligence-driven services.  Yet, the authors should factor out as much bias as possible to be as accurate as possible.

Rare Earth Exchange Reality Take

While the Lobito Corridor presents potential benefits for regional development, it is imperative to critically assess the underlying assumptions and biases in analyses like Pinto’s. A more nuanced approach would consider the perspectives of African stakeholders, recognize the complexities of existing alliances, and question whether Western-led projects genuinely serve the interests of the African nations involved or primarily advance external geopolitical objectives.

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