US Adopts New Strategy to Compete with China for Africa's Critical Minerals

Washington leverages offtake deals and state-backed funding to secure long-term supplies of resources like cobalt and copper

Feb. 9, 2026 at 1:15am

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The United States is adopting a new strategy to compete with China in the battle for access to critical minerals in Africa. This includes leveraging offtake deals and state-backed funding to secure long-term supplies of resources like cobalt and copper, which are essential for the energy transition and supply chain resilience. The US is particularly focused on countries like the Democratic Republic of Congo, Zambia, and Guinea, where China already controls a significant portion of production.

Why it matters

Control over critical mineral resources is increasingly seen as a national security issue in Washington, as it is linked to supply chain resilience and the energy transition. The US is seeking to reduce its reliance on China, which currently dominates production and refining of many of these minerals in Africa.

The details

The US is pursuing offtake agreements and other trading arrangements, such as its deal with Mercuria and agreements with the Congolese state miner Gécamines, to channel more of the output into value chains aligned with the US rather than those controlled by Chinese refiners. This strategy aims to push the US into a stronger position in high-risk African nations where China has already established a significant presence.

  • In 2021, a World Bank report revealed that China controls almost 50% of cobalt production in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).
  • In 2024, the DRC produced 3.3 million metric tons of copper, accounting for 70% of the world's cobalt supply.

The players

Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC)

A country in Central Africa that accounts for 70% of the world's cobalt supply and produced 3.3 million metric tons of copper in 2024.

Gécamines

The Congolese state-owned mining company that has agreements with the US.

Mercuria

A US corporation that has an offtake agreement with the US government.

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What they’re saying

“We're already seeing U.S. engagement reshape mineral flows out of Africa.”

— Thomas Scurfield, Senior Analyst, NRGI (Ahead of the Investing in African Mining Indaba event)

“The U.S. is putting money behind its rhetoric, but it remains to be seen whether it can compete with China's scale and speed.”

— Thomas Scurfield, Senior Analyst, NRGI (Ahead of the Investing in African Mining Indaba event)

“This is the U.S. deploying financial firepower rather than industrial presence.”

— Vincent Rouget, Analyst, Control Risks (Ahead of the Investing in African Mining Indaba event)

What’s next

At the upcoming Investing in African Mining Indaba conference in Cape Town, both the US and China are expected to seek new commitments from African nations as they compete for access to critical mineral resources.

The takeaway

The battle for control over Africa's critical mineral resources has become a key geopolitical and national security issue for the US, as it seeks to reduce its reliance on China and secure long-term supplies of materials essential for the energy transition and supply chain resilience.