U.S.–China Mineral Race Intensifies as African Leaders Head to Washington

By Bradley Riviera 

Overview

African mining nations are stepping into the geopolitical spotlight as strategic rivals — the United States and China — intensify competition over access to critical minerals. On 26 January 2026, leading African mining delegations convened in Washington, D.C., USA, to deliberate on ways to deepen cooperation with U.S. companies and policymakers on extractive industries.

Why It Matters

The pivot reflects growing global demand for critical minerals (like cobalt, lithium and rare earths) that are essential for renewable energy technologies, electric vehicles and defence supply chains. While China has long dominated investment and processing capacity on the continent, Washington is accelerating engagement to diversify supply sources and reduce strategic vulnerabilities.

What African Mining Leaders Hope to Gain

African representatives are seeking:

• Enhanced investment guarantees and infrastructure financing
• Technical partnerships in downstream processing and beneficiation
• Market access assurances for African mineral exports

For the U.S., securing mining supply lines from Africa helps hedge against over-dependence on any single global partner while boosting industrial ties. For African nations, the discussions present opportunities to move further up the value chain and capture more revenue from mineral exports.