East African Mining News Unearthing Mining Opportunities in East Africa
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As tariffs rise, borders tighten, aid budgets shrink and nationalism resurges, the global economy appears to be fragmenting. Yet in this moment of uncertainty, Africa’s mining sector may be finding unexpected leverage, positioned at the centre of a new scramble for critical minerals that the world urgently needs.
That was the central tension on 10 February 2026 at the Investing in African Mining Indaba in Cape Town, where industry heavyweights took to the main stage for a spirited debate on whether geopolitical disruption is a threat or a turning point for the continent. Framed around the question, “Is Africa a winner in the current geopolitical disruption?” the debate moderated by the President and CEO of the International Council on Mining and Metals, Rohitesh Dhawan, blended humour with hard truths. Beneath the theatrical format, one reality stood out, that in a world scrambling for critical minerals, Africa sits at the centre of the board.
The Director at Signal Risk and visiting fellow at the London School of Economics, Ronak Gopaldas cautioned against complacency. “Hope is not a strategy,” he quipped, warning that the world is re-entering an era of raw power politics where economic and military influence shape outcomes. Without regional solidarity and collective bargaining, Africa risks remaining a price-taker in a high-stakes minerals race. In a fragmented global order, leverage belongs to those who negotiate strategically not those who rely on aspiration.
Taking the optimistic stance, Chief Executive Officer of Kumba Iron Ore, Mpumi Zikalala pointed to an undeniable fact: Africa holds roughly 40% of the world’s proven critical-mineral reserves. “The world is beating a path to our door. We just need to negotiate deals that work for us,” noted Zikalala. From copper and cobalt to lithium and iron ore, the minerals driving energy transition, electrification and advanced technologies are abundant across the continent.
As global powers race to secure supply chains, Africa is no longer peripheral, it is pivotal. Zikalala also highlighted the continent’s demographic strength. With the youngest population globally, Africa possesses what she described as a long-term competitive advantage. Skills gaps can be closed but demographic decline elsewhere cannot.
Geology and geopolitics alone are not enough. This is according to Gracelin Baskaran, Director of Critical Minerals Security at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, as she highlighted what she called the essential third “G”, as in governance. This is essentially the missing link. “It’s not just about geopolitical conditions or geological endowment. You need to get governance right,” stated Baskaran.
Policy inconsistency, resource nationalism and fragmented regulatory regimes continue to deter exploration in parts of the continent. Greater regional integration including shared processing infrastructure and aligned policy frameworks could unlock scale and competitiveness. Not every country needs its own refinery. But together, regions can build globally relevant value chains.
With regards to a minerals-centred power shift, TechMet Chairman and CEO Brian Menell framed the moment starkly by saying, the new global rivalry is about control of resources. Energy transition, robotics, defence technologies and artificial intelligence all depend on minerals Africa has in abundance. Investment capital is increasingly flowing to secure these supply chains, with the US, Europe and Asia actively seeking diversified sources. “The world needs more of what we’ve got,” concluded Menell.
If the previous era was defined by globalisation, the current one is defined by strategic competition. In that environment, Africa’s mineral wealth is no longer just an export commodity, it is geopolitical currency. The debate’s underlying consensus was clear: disruption does not automatically translate into advantage. But it creates space for Africa to negotiate smarter, build regional value chains and to convert mineral endowment into economic leverage. Global instability may be reshaping the rules. The question now is whether Africa will simply adapt or assert itself as a decisive player in the new minerals order.
