Navigating Governance Challenges in African Critical Mineral Supply Chains

This briefing by the South African Institute of International Affairs examines the governance challenges facing critical mineral supply chains in Africa. It argues that while the global energy transition increases demand for minerals like lithium and cobalt, a lack of transparency and accountability risks causing environmental and socio-economic harm. The document advocates for the implementation of the African Mining Vision and a coordinated approach between national governments, private companies, and civil society to ensure the energy transition does not entrench global inequalities.

• The global energy transition is driving a massive increase in demand for critical minerals—including copper, nickel, graphite, cobalt, lithium, and rare earth elements—with the International Energy Agency predicting an approximately fourfold increase in demand by 2030.
• Critical mineral reserves are often located in countries with poor environmental and governance records, meaning new investments will increasingly target high-risk areas. In Africa, the extraction of these minerals is already hindered by corruption and governance failures.
• Specific risks have been identified in newly discovered lithium mines in the Democratic Republic of Congo, Namibia, and Zimbabwe, where there are serious threats of environmental degradation, transnational corruption, and human rights violations.
• There is a fundamental tension in supply chain governance: developed countries primarily prioritize the security of supply, whereas African countries focus on using mineral wealth to advance their positions within the renewable energy supply chain.
• Despite various national and sector-led initiatives, there is no overarching international framework to coordinate policy action, leading to a confusing array of standards for stakeholders.
• The African Mining Vision (AMV), adopted by the African Union in 2009, provides a framework for sustainable development, but its implementation has been slow and awareness among stakeholders remains insufficient.
• To improve governance, the document recommends that AU member states implement open mining cadastres to increase transparency regarding beneficial ownership and licensing, and that private companies adopt AI and blockchain to improve accountability.

APA

JOSEPH, A. (2024). Navigating Governance Challenges in African Critical Mineral Supply Chains. South African Institute of International Affairs. https://saiia.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/SAIIA_PI_151_NavigatingGovernanceChallenges.pdf

Chicago

JOSEPH, ADRIAN. Navigating Governance Challenges in African Critical Mineral Supply Chains. South African Institute of International Affairs, 2024. https://saiia.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/SAIIA_PI_151_NavigatingGovernanceChallenges.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |last1=JOSEPH |first1=ADRIAN |title=Navigating Governance Challenges in African Critical Mineral Supply Chains |publisher=South African Institute of International Affairs |date=May 2024 |url=https://saiia.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/SAIIA_PI_151_NavigatingGovernanceChallenges.pdf |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{joseph2024navigating, author = {JOSEPH, ADRIAN}, title = {{Navigating Governance Challenges in African Critical Mineral Supply Chains}}, institution = {South African Institute of International Affairs}, year = {2024}, month = may, url = {https://saiia.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/SAIIA_PI_151_NavigatingGovernanceChallenges.pdf}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }