Africa's Critical Minerals: The Hidden Engine of AI
Africa holds 30% of the world's critical minerals vital for AI hardware but captures only 10% of the revenue. The continent supplies 70% of global cobalt (DRC), expanding lithium (Nigeria, Zimbabwe, Namibia), and major graphite sources (Madagascar, Mozambique). Yet raw materials are exported while processing, chip fabrication, and AI dominance occur elsewhere. This creates digital extractivism. AI's industrial phase demands compute sovereignty, regional GPU clusters, and integrated digital public infrastructure. Without strategic mineral policy linking extraction to manufacturing, Africa risks remaining a resource base rather than a strategic power.