US focused on developing Africa’s mining sector amid industrialization and infrastructure challenges

The Trump administration has expressed a strong interest in developing Africa’s mining sector, particularly in minerals vital for clean energy technologies.
On the first day of his second term, US president Donald Trump signed an executive order prioritizing mineral extraction and processing, signaling a commitment to international partnerships, especially with African nations rich in resources. Scott Woodard, the US State Department’s acting deputy assistant secretary for energy transformation, reinforced this stance at a recent African mining conference in Cape Town, South Africa.
While the United States has a clear focus on raw material extraction, questions arose about Africa’s desire for industrialization through value-added projects. At the conference, moderator Zainab Usman raised concerns about whether the US recognizes Africa’s broader goals of processing minerals locally. Woodard acknowledged the importance of these goals but indicated that US policy on this issue is still being developed. The US has already invested in Africa’s mineral sector, particularly through agreements with the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and Zambia to establish a supply chain for electric vehicle batteries, leveraging the region’s copper, lithium, and cobalt resources.
However, infrastructure challenges remain a significant obstacle, with Africa facing a $350 billion financing gap for transportation projects essential for the mining industry. Zambia’s transport minister, Frank Tayali, underscored the importance of improving infrastructure to boost economic growth. In addition to US investments, China has focused on rehabilitating the Tanzania-Zambia Railway Authority (TAZARA) to enhance East African trade routes. South Africa also faces logistical issues with its state-owned Transnet railway system, which is in dire need of investment to maintain its mining exports. As the US and other global powers vie for influence in Africa’s resource sector, collaboration, infrastructure development, and value-added processing remain key to ensuring mutual benefits for both Africa and its international partners.