As global powers compete for clean-energy minerals, Africa’s copper and lithium could redefine trade, diplomacy and development – if governments turn resources into leverage.
Africa’s copper belts and lithium fields are rapidly shifting from peripheral assets to strategic instruments in global trade.
As the world accelerates towards electrification, copper and lithium have emerged as two of the most consequential commodities of the energy transition – and Africa sits on an increasingly critical share of both. In 2026, how these minerals are produced, transported and processed will shape not only export revenues, but Africa’s geopolitical leverage in a fractured global economy.
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