US African policy should focus on critical minerals- Think Tank

The US should craft a foreign policy in Africa that focuses on critical minerals to curb dependence on China, the United States Institute of Peace said.

“US economic and national security depend on securing a reliable supply of critical minerals, including from Africa,” the Washington-based Think tank said in a report.

The US relies on imports for the supply of most of the minerals used in energy transition, such as lithium and cobalt.

“Especially concerning is that the United States is at or near 100% reliant on ‘foreign entities of concern’ — mainly the People’s Republic of China — for key critical minerals,” says the report.

China takes the lead as far as the exploitation of rare minerals in Africa. Therefore, Washington must roll out “more vigorous commercial diplomacy with a keen eye toward building critical minerals partnership in Africa,” the 76-page report said.

The US is “simply not on, or even near, par in competing with China” for critical minerals investment and diplomacy in Africa, and needs to take a vigorous approach, it said.

Chinese firms owned or had stakes in 15 of the 19 cobalt producing mines in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) which produces more than 70% of the world’s cobalt.