Is Africa at the table this time

Is Africa at the table this time.

There is a new scramble for Africa’s natural resources that should raise red flags.  

By Leon Louw founder of WhyAfrica and Endorphin Expeditions.

There is a lot of talk about Africa’s minerals these days.

At international conferences, around roundtables and in the smoke-filled back offices of the political elite.

The first big conference about access to Africa’s natural resources took place in Berlin, Germany, from 15 November 1884 to 26 February 1885.

This conference involved 14 countries, including (amongst others) Britain, France, Germany, Portugal, Belgium and Spain.

While the official participants were mainly European governments, the conference was heavily influenced by private commercial and colonial interests.

Although the meeting was about Africa, not one African country was represented.

During the conference, these countries laid down the rules for trade and development, prompting the first great scramble for Africa.

Europe drew the borders of the African map and determined who gets access to Africa’s natural resources.

Africa in the spotlight again   

So, 140 years later, Africa’s mineral wealth is in the spotlight again, this time for more than gold and diamonds.

Critical minerals, battery minerals and Rare Earth Elements top the agenda.

Today, there are several additional members at the table including (amongst others) China, America, Russia and the Middle East. Again, with big business whispering in their ears.

As someone who believes sustainable mining can drive development, this excites me. But it also concerns me for several reasons.

In addition to exploration and mining, I also have a passion for the environment, biodiversity and conservation, and for the people of Africa.

And therefore, I think, we should start questioning the new scramble.

Is Africa (as a continent and not induvial countries) leading conversations about its own mineral endowment?

Are African countries making the rules? Have they drawn a line in the sand?

Africa is more than minerals         

Africa is far more than its mineral endowment.

The continent holds some of the world’s greatest natural resources including wildlife, biodiversity, water, soil, wind and hydrocarbons, in addition to its minerals.

These resources do not exist in isolation. They form part of one connected system. Development should reflect that reality.

Africa cannot be reduced to a single asset class without being at the table.

Sustainability is a strategy, not a slogan.

Image: Africa back on the map. Image credit: James Wiseman from Unsplash.

Is Africa at the table this time?