Growth Amid Scrutiny
As Africa’s critical-minerals sector expands to meet global demand for lithium, cobalt, and copper, Chinese multinational companies—key investors in this boom—are coming under increasing scrutiny. A recent report by Industri ALL Global Union highlights persistent labor violations, low wages, and unsafe working conditions across several Chinese-operated sites in the Democratic Republic of Congo, Zimbabwe, and Zambia. Communities near mining areas also report pollution, land degradation, and limited consultation in project development.
The Cost of Strategic Dominance
China’s dominance in Africa’s critical-minerals extraction has been central to its global manufacturing advantage, especially for batteries and renewable technologies. However, the report suggests that this rapid expansion has often outpaced the enforcement of labor and environmental standards. Civil-society organizations argue that the pursuit of “strategic minerals security” cannot come at the expense of workers’ rights and ecological sustainability. The challenge now lies in transforming China’s extractive footprint from extractive efficiency to responsible engagement.
Toward Responsible Mineral Partnerships
African governments are beginning to respond with stronger regulatory frameworks and calls for joint ventures that ensure technology transfer, value addition, and transparent revenue sharing. The upcoming African Critical Minerals Summit in Addis Ababa is expected to debate new regional compliance mechanisms and certification schemes. For Beijing and its African partners, the test will be whether the next phase of cooperation can reconcile profit with principle—turning Africa’s mineral wealth into a foundation for shared and sustainable growth.