Across Africa, governments are asserting greater control over their critical mineral resources in a push to capture more value from the global energy transition. Countries such as Zimbabwe, Zambia, Ghana, Rwanda, and Namibia have implemented export restrictions on unprocessed minerals like lithium, cobalt, and bauxite, aiming to spur local processing and industrialization. Zimbabwe, for example, has seen a rapid expansion of domestic lithium refining facilities, contributing to a significant jump in export earnings. These moves reflect a broader policy shift across the continent: instead of simply exporting raw materials, governments are demanding that international investors support local job creation, technology transfer, and infrastructure development as conditions for access to strategic resources.
This new assertiveness is also manifesting in more direct state intervention. Governments in Mali, Guinea, and Niger have revoked licenses, altered contract terms, or nationalized extractive assets—moves that, while controversial, underscore the growing demand for mineral sovereignty. In some cases, military-led governments have framed these actions as necessary to protect national interests and ensure that mining benefits reach local populations. These developments send a clear message to foreign investors: future access to Africa’s critical minerals will depend not just on capital and technology, but on a demonstrated commitment to equitable development, community inclusion, and environmental responsibility.
For mining companies and infrastructure developers, the implication is clear: traditional models of resource extraction focused on exports and limited local engagement are no longer viable. Companies must build trust through transparent operations, shared economic benefits, and sustained community engagement. Supporting in-country mineral processing, partnering with local enterprises, and contributing to long-term development goals are now essential components of earning and maintaining a social license to operate. In this emerging policy landscape, Africa is repositioning itself not merely as a source of raw materials, but as a key player in shaping the future of global supply chains—and as a continent determined to turn its resource wealth into lasting national value.