Zimbabwe’s suspension of lithium exports has jolted global markets, sending Chinese lithium futures soaring and underscoring Africa’s growing leverage in critical mineral supply chains. Like the Democratic Republic of Congo’s earlier cobalt restrictions, the move reflects a broader push by resource-rich nations to process minerals locally rather than ship them abroad raw. Since 2023, at least 13 African countries have introduced similar export curbs in hopes of creating jobs and capturing more value. Yet ambition alone is not enough. Building processing capacity requires capital, technical expertise, and reliable energy—areas where progress remains slow. Analysts argue that deeper regional cooperation through blocs such as ECOWAS and the Southern African Development Community may offer the most practical path forward. A potential partnership could involve neighboring nations sharing responsibility for different stages of processing.
Semafor
