The United States is aggressively recalibrating its industrial policy, moving from diplomatic rhetoric to high-stakes execution as it courts Africa’s premier mining nations to secure supply chains for the global energy transition.
With the inaugural “a Ministerial” set for February 4, 2026, Secretary of State Marco Rubio is spearheading a strategic offensive to bypass Beijing’s entrenched dominance in cobalt, copper, and lithium.
Leading the charge, the Democratic Republic of Congo has already bypassed traditional aid models, presenting Washington with a shortlist of state-owned assets for direct American investment—a move that signals a tectonic shift toward commercially viable, security-centric partnerships on the continent.
High-level initiatives, such as the Critical Minerals Ministerial, aim to foster partnerships between U.S. entities and African governments. Direct cooperation with countries like the Democratic Republic of Congo and Kenya has been initiated to capitalize on their rich mineral reserves.
Washington’s renewed push comes as China continues to consolidate its dominance across Africa’s mining sector, from cobalt and copper in the Democratic Republic of Congo to iron ore in Guinea.
U.S. officials are now seeking to rebalance that influence by accelerating direct engagement with African governments and promoting investment-led partnerships with American firms.
On 20 January, the U.S. State Department announced that Secretary of State Marco Rubio will host the inaugural Critical Minerals Ministerial on 4 February, bringing together global partners to coordinate strategies for securing access to minerals vital for electric vehicles, defence systems, and clean energy technologies.
The department said strengthening mineral supply chains is essential to U.S. economic security, technological leadership, and a resilient energy future.
Senior officials and mining executives from several African countries are expected to attend. According to The Africa Report, the DRC, Kenya, and Guinea will be represented, with DRC President Félix Tshisekedi attending alongside mining minister Louis Watum Kabamba and Gécamines chairman Guy-Robert Lukama.
Congolese government recently submitted data on its mineral reserves to U.S. authorities, in continuation of a minerals cooperation framework agreed with the Trump administration.
Africa becomes the frontline in U.S.–China minerals rivalry The ministerial follows a high-level finance meeting hosted by U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, where officials from the European Union, UK, France, Germany, Italy, Australia, Canada, Japan, South Korea, and Mexico discussed how to secure strategic mineral supply chains outside China’s control.
Former U.S. special envoy J. Peter Pham, now chair of U.S. mining firm Ivanhoe Atlantic, said Washington is increasingly prioritising countries that can support reliable, investor-friendly projects.
He noted that African governments that present verified mineral assets and bankable projects are more likely to secure U.S. backing, as Washington continues to pivot away from aid-driven engagement toward commercially viable partnerships.
This approach was evident a few weeks ago when the Congolese government submitted detailed data on its mineral reserves to U.S. authorities, in preparation for advancing the continuation of a minerals cooperation framework first agreed under the Trump administration.
Last week, President Tshisekedi’s administration submitted a shortlist of state-owned assets including cobalt, copper, manganese, gold, and lithium for U.S. investors to assess
Kenya is also emerging as a new frontier after Shanta Gold announced a discovery valued at more than $5bn, strengthening its appeal as the U.S.–China rivalry increasingly plays out on African soil.
China’s influence looms large. Guinea’s Simandou iron ore project, one of the world’s largest untapped reserves, recently shipped its first cargo to China, highlighting Beijing’s deep integration across Africa’s extractive sector.
At the same time, the U.S. has stepped up diplomatic engagement, dispatching senior Africa bureau official Nick Checker to Conakry for the inauguration of President Mamadi Doumbouya in January, according to The Africa Report.
In the DRC, despite ongoing insecurity in the east, the government is moving quickly to position itself within Washington’s minerals strategy.
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