Advanced and emerging economies are competing to secure the critical minerals needed for the digital and green transitions, defence and advanced manufacturing. Africa holds a large share of these resources but accounts for only 10.6% of global critical mineral exports, almost all of them raw or semi-processed. This Regional Note examines Africa's current and potential role in supply chains for cobalt, copper, graphite, lithium, manganese and nickel. It reviews production, investment and trade patterns and the main constraints on the sector, then sets out the fundamentals African countries need to benefit from their resources: robust geological information systems, updated legal and fiscal frameworks, stronger linkages to the wider economy and formalised artisanal and small-scale mining. It concludes with recommendations for African governments, regional institutions, international partners and supply chain actors.
Critical minerals in Africa
A regional overview
