Washington is accelerating efforts to secure access to vital minerals located in several African nations, signaling a strategic shift towards de-risking supply chains and bolstering national security. This move increasingly frames control, or assured access, to these resources not as a mere commercial objective, but as a essential national security imperative, particularly concerning the rapidly expanding energy transition. The focus is sharply set on Zambia, Guinea, and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).

The DRC: A Cobalt And Copper Epicenter

The Democratic Republic of Congo is quickly becoming central to this strategic competition. According to recent data, the DRC accounted for a notable 70% of the world’s cobalt supply in 2024, and also produced 3.3 million metric tons of copper. These resources are essential components in the production of electric vehicles, batteries, and other technologies driving the green energy revolution.

Currently, China maintains a dominant position in the DRC’s cobalt sector. A 2021 World bank report indicated that Chinese entities control approximately 50% of the country’s cobalt production, with eight of the fourteen largest cobalt mines owned—frequently enough through joint ventures—by Chinese companies.

U.S. Strategy: Offtake Agreements and Risk Mitigation

The United States is adopting a new playbook which prioritizes securing long-term supply agreements and minimizing direct investment risks, mirroring strategies previously employed by Chinese state-linked enterprises. Previously, American companies have hesitated about operating in the DRC due to political instability and operational challenges.

Washington is enacting this policy through offtake agreements, such as those established with Mercuria and the Congolese state miner Gécamines. This facilitates directing mineral output toward value chains aligned with U.S. interests, without directly placing American operators in high-risk environments. The focus is on ensuring a consistent flow of resources to U.S. markets, rather than direct ownership of mining operations.

The Indaba Mining Gathering: A key Battleground

The annual Investing in African Mining Indaba, currently underway in cape Town, is serving as a pivotal forum for both Washington and Beijing to cultivate new partnerships and commitments. Representatives from the U.S. government are actively engaging with officials from countries housing critical mineral deposits to explore new possibilities for collaboration.

Country Key Mineral U.S. Strategy
Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) Cobalt, Copper Offtake agreements with local miners
Zambia Copper Exploring new investment opportunities
Guinea Bauxite Strengthening partnerships for sustainable mining

Experts note that the united states is actively working to reshape mineral flows from Africa. Thomas Scurfield, a senior analyst with NRGI, commented that “We’re already seeing U.S. engagement reshape mineral flows out of Africa.” Though, he cautioned that, “The U.S. is putting money behind its rhetoric, but it remains to be seen whether it can compete with China’s scale and speed.”

Vincent Rouget, an analyst at Control Risks, suggested that the U.S. approach is more financially driven than industrially focused. “This is the U.S. deploying financial firepower rather than industrial presence,” he stated, emphasizing that these strategies enable Washington to redirect Congolese copper to American buyers without taking on the direct operational challenges of owning and managing mines in the DRC.

What does this increased competition mean for the future of African mining and resource governance? How will these new strategies impact local communities and the environment in these key mineral-rich nations?