Stakeholders have called for a fundamental rethink of Africa’s role in the global green minerals economy, urging the continent to move beyond extraction and push for value addition, industrial capacity, and financing sovereignty.

Speaking at the ‘2025 Jukwaa la Uziduaji’ in Dodoma, experts warned that despite holding vast reserves of transition minerals, African countries remain stuck at the lower end of the global value chain.

Hans Merket from the International Peace Information Service (IPIS) stated that Tanzania faces stiff competition from global giants already dominating the mineral refining sector, especially in areas such as graphite. “This raises critical questions about how Tanzania can build local capacity and remain competitive in the global value chain,” he said.

Tafara Chiremba from the Zimbabwe Environmental Lawyers Association (ZELA) noted that a lack of infrastructure and access to finance continues to undermine value-addition efforts on the continent. “Competing with countries like China, which has advanced infrastructure for processing critical minerals, is a challenge,” he said. He added that global financial systems, shaped by the Global North, are not supportive of Africa’s development agenda. “These minerals are not really for Africa. They serve the interests of the Global North, who are the primary consumers.”

For Tanzania, the government claims to have a plan. A representative from the Ministry of Minerals, Ali Samaje, stated that the country’s strategy for critical and strategic minerals is focused on building capacity across the entire value chain, from exploration and mining to processing, manufacturing, and recycling. “It aims to create jobs, secure sustainable supply chains, and attract long-term investments,” he said.

Experts, however, emphasised that no country can go it alone. Kenneth Okwaroh from the African Forum and Network on Debt and Development (AFRODAD) said regional collaboration is vital. “If countries work in silos, we risk becoming weak links in global supply chains or remaining stuck in extractive models that don’t benefit our people,” he said.

Mkhululi Ncube from the Africa Mineral Development Centre stressed the need for African players to be active across all segments of the green mineral value chain to ensure investments support industrial growth, not just raw material exports.