Armstrong Williams explores the new scramble for Africa's critical minerals, delving into whether these resources will empower nations or perpetuate conflict, drawing lessons from history to shape a prosperous future.
History has a habit of repeating itself, but rarely in exactly the same form.
During the nineteenth century, European powers carved up Africa in pursuit of gold, diamonds, ivory, and strategic territory. The wealth beneath African soil helped fuel industrial revolutions abroad while much of the continent remained poor, divided, and exploited.
Today, a new scramble for Africa is under way.
The prize is no longer simply gold or diamonds. It is lithium, cobalt, manganese, graphite, platinum group metals, copper, nickel, and the rare earth elements that power electric vehicles, artificial intelligence, advanced defence systems, renewable energy, and the digital economy.
