Von Rohstoffen zu Einfluss: Abkommen über Ressourcen im Austausch gegen Sicherheit verändern die Machtverhältnisse in Afrika

The document argues that Africa's critical raw materials (CRMs) have triggered a resurgence of transactional deals where external powers provide security or infrastructure in exchange for resource access. It contrasts Russia's use of private military companies, the US's transactional 'peace-brokering' model, and China's 'infrastructure-for-resources' strategy, noting that these arrangements often prioritize foreign strategic gains over African long-term stability and sovereignty.

• Critical raw materials (CRMs) essential for military systems, artificial intelligence, and green energy technologies are driving a resurgence of natural resources-for-security deals in Africa, influencing global supply chains and industrial policies like the US Inflation Reduction Act and the 2023 EU Critical Raw Materials Act.
• Russia utilizes a dual-track approach to influence Africa, combining official military-technical cooperation with unofficial engagements via private military companies (PMCs) like the Wagner Group to secure mining rights and energy partnerships.
• In Mali, the transitional government exchanged gold mining concessions in the south of the country for security services provided by Russian PMCs in 2021, though Russia later faced military setbacks in northern Mali in July 2024.
• The US under the Trump administration employs a transactional 'deal-oriented' approach to mineral diplomacy, as seen in a June 2025 peace agreement between the DRC and Rwanda where US security support is linked to access to Congolese mineral supply chains.
• A US-Ukraine deal signed on April 30, 2025, establishes a joint investment fund for reconstruction funded by future natural resource extraction, with US military aid treated as a contribution to the fund; this is strategically linked to lithium deposits in Russian-occupied eastern Ukraine.
• China implements an 'infrastructure-for-resources' model through the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) and the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC), providing loans and infrastructure in exchange for long-term resource control, including stakes in 15 of 17 cobalt operations in the DRC.
• China's security engagement in Africa includes the 2017 opening of its first overseas military installation in Djibouti and the use of dual-use infrastructure (ports, data centres, and telecom networks) to extend its military reach.

APA

Kretzschmar, M. (2025). Von Rohstoffen zu Einfluss: Abkommen über Ressourcen im Austausch gegen Sicherheit verändern die Machtverhältnisse in Afrika. Africa Policy Research Institute. https://afripoli.org/de/von-rohstoffen-zu-einfluss-abkommen-uber-ressourcen-im-austausch-gegen-sicherheit-veraendern-die-machtverhaeltnisse-in-afrika-en

Chicago

Kretzschmar, Marius. Von Rohstoffen zu Einfluss: Abkommen über Ressourcen im Austausch gegen Sicherheit verändern die Machtverhältnisse in Afrika. Africa Policy Research Institute, 2025. https://afripoli.org/de/von-rohstoffen-zu-einfluss-abkommen-uber-ressourcen-im-austausch-gegen-sicherheit-veraendern-die-machtverhaeltnisse-in-afrika-en.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |last1=Kretzschmar |first1=Marius |title=Von Rohstoffen zu Einfluss: Abkommen über Ressourcen im Austausch gegen Sicherheit verändern die Machtverhältnisse in Afrika |publisher=Africa Policy Research Institute |date=29 September 2025 |url=https://afripoli.org/de/von-rohstoffen-zu-einfluss-abkommen-uber-ressourcen-im-austausch-gegen-sicherheit-veraendern-die-machtverhaeltnisse-in-afrika-en |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{kretzschmar2025von, author = {Kretzschmar, Marius}, title = {{Von Rohstoffen zu Einfluss: Abkommen über Ressourcen im Austausch gegen Sicherheit verändern die Machtverhältnisse in Afrika}}, institution = {Africa Policy Research Institute}, year = {2025}, month = sep, url = {https://afripoli.org/de/von-rohstoffen-zu-einfluss-abkommen-uber-ressourcen-im-austausch-gegen-sicherheit-veraendern-die-machtverhaeltnisse-in-afrika-en}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }