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

This research paper analyzes the resurgence of 'resources-for-security' deals in Africa, driven by the global demand for critical raw materials (CRMs) for green energy and military technology. It contrasts three primary models: Russia's use of private military companies (PMCs) for mining rights, the US's transactional 'peace-brokering' approach to secure supply chains, and China's 'infrastructure-for-resources' strategy via the Belt and Road Initiative. The paper argues that while these deals offer short-term security or development gains, they often reinforce dependency and authoritarianism, mirroring colonial and Cold War extractive patterns.

• There is a resurgence of 'natural resources-for-security' deals in Africa, driven by the global demand for critical raw materials (CRMs) essential for military systems, artificial intelligence, and green energy technologies. These resources are influencing industrial and geopolitical policies, as seen in the US Inflation Reduction Act and the 2023 EU Critical Raw Materials Act.
• Russia utilizes a strategy of providing military assistance, often through private military companies (PMCs) like the Wagner Group, in exchange for political influence and mining rights. This model has been active in the Sahelian countries, Mozambique, Sudan, and the Central African Republic since 2017. In Mali, the transitional government granted Wagner access to gold mining concessions in the south in 2021, though Russia faced military setbacks in northern Mali in July 2024.
• The US under the Trump administration employs a transactional, deal-oriented approach to mineral diplomacy. This is exemplified by a June 2025 peace agreement brokered between the DRC and Rwanda, where access to Congolese mineral supply chains is linked to US security support. A similar model was applied in an April 30, 2025, deal with Ukraine, where future natural resource extraction revenues and US military aid will contribute to a joint reconstruction fund.
• China implements an 'infrastructure-for-resources' model, providing large-scale loans and infrastructure projects via the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) and the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) in exchange for long-term resource access. China's security engagement includes peacekeeping—with over 80% of its peacekeepers deployed in Africa—and the use of dual-use infrastructure. In the DRC, China holds stakes in 15 of 17 cobalt operations.
• Historical precedents for these deals exist in the colonial era and the Cold War. During the Cold War, the US supported President Mobutu Sese Seko in Zaire (now DRC) to secure cobalt and uranium for military and nuclear applications. Simultaneously, the USSR provided military equipment and advisors to the MPLA government in Angola in exchange for exclusive access to diamond mines and oil reserves.

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} }