China-US Competition for Africa's Critical Minerals

 The Atlantic Council published on 12 October 2023 an analysis titled "How the US Can Build Better Strategic Partnerships in Africa to Secure Critical Minerals" by Nii Simmonds and Shirley Martey Hargis.

China currently dominates 90 percent of the global market for critical minerals, including imports from Africa, which has the minerals that will power the modern world.  The US should incentivize and strengthen private sector partnerships with African countries to secure supply chains.  More urgent action is needed to counter China's dominance of the continent's critical minerals.

Will China Take Advantage of Coup in Gabon?

 The Interpreter published on 4 September 2023 a commentary titled "Coup d'Etat in Gabon: Oil, Champagne, and China's Geopolitical Opportunity" by Cornelia Tremann.

France's loss in Gabon following the military coup may result in China's gain.  Gabon could offer a situation where China will want to have a bigger post-coup profile.  

Competition for Africa's Critical Minerals: A Boon or a Burden?

 The US Institute of Peace published on 7 June 2023 a commentary titled "Challenging China's Grip on Critical Minerals Can Be a Boon for Africa's Future" by Edward A. Burrier and Thomas P. Sheehy.

Growing demand by China and the West for critical minerals for clean energy technology such as electric vehicles strengthens Africa's economic leverage.  It could contribute to a more stable and prosperous continent.  It may also result in greater economic inequality, corruption, and instability.

China, Congo, Cobalt, and Cars

 Mining.com posted on 8 April 2021 an article titled "World's No. 2 Electric Carmaker Goes Nickel, Cobalt Free."

China's BYD is the world's second largest manufacturer of electric vehicles behind Tesla.  China is trying to control the electric vehicle market.  The batteries for electric vehicles rely heavily on cobalt, which China is also trying to control.  Most of the world's cobalt comes from the Democratic Republic of the Congo. 

BYD has announced that it is scrapping nickel, cobalt, manganese technology for its batteries and switching to lithium-iron-phosphate batteries.  If other electric car producers follow BYD's decision, this raises interesting questions for the future of cobalt and the importance that China will continue to attach to the DRC.