CHALLENGES IN THE US-AFRICA CRITICAL MINERAL COOPERATION
Abstract
The study examines the barriers in US-Africa Critical mineral cooperation, including the competition to control the critical mineral supply chain. It focuses on the factors that influence cooperation and the mining process in Africa, identifying the barriers and the best approach for the United States to tilt the competition in its favor and foster cooperation. A qualitative research design was employed, using purposive and random sampling techniques to select 14 participants representing U.S. government agencies, U.S. companies in the mineral sector, and local and international non-governmental organizations. Data were collected via semi-structured interviews and analyzed using thematic and content analysis. The findings revealed significant challenges, including transparency issues, poor coordination, environmental gaps, and infrastructure gaps, in the region. The case studies of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), governance and SA, and Angola's rare earth resources revealed comparative differences in governance approaches and structures among the three countries. Angola and South Africa (SA) demonstrate stronger governance structures and are ready to partner with the United States in critical mineral areas, while the DRC continues to face governance constraints. The results suggest that the United States can pursue cooperation with African nations by adopting differentiated strategies tailored to national contexts, thereby enhancing trust, improving governance collaboration, and strengthening its position in the global critical minerals competition.
Keywords: Critical minerals; Cooperation; Governance; Transparency; Infrastructure; Mining.
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