Deprose Muchena: Critical Minerals Race Echoes Colonial Scramble

Deprose Muchena, director of the Resources Futures in Africa programme at the Open Society Foundations, warns that the current global race for Africa’s critical minerals mirrors the historical 'Scramble for Africa.' As demand for resources like cobalt, lithium, and graphite surges due to the energy transition, Muchena highlights a structural contradiction: while Africa holds significant reserves, it attracts minimal exploration spending and retains little value from exports. For instance, the Democratic Republic of Congo produces most of the world's cobalt but refines only 1%, and Ghana retains just 14% of its gold export value. Muchena argues that Africa must disrupt this colonial model of extractivism by implementing radical legislative changes, linking mineral value chains to local economies, and negotiating collectively as a continent rather than fragmented states. He emphasizes the need for Africa to become a rule-maker, ensuring environmental stewardship and community agency. Crucially, he notes the tension between meeting global clean energy demands and addressing domestic needs, such as electricity access for 600 million Africans. The outcome of this mineral boom depends on governance that prevents ruthless exploitation and promotes shared beneficiation.