Africa · Western Key Facts —Supply chains. The contest is not about mine ownership alone but about controlling processing, transport corridors, financing, and offtake agreements. —China’s edge. Beijing controls an estimated 87% of global critical-minerals processing and refining and issued $24.9 billion in BRI-linked mining loans in the first half of 2025 alone. —US counter-strategy. Washington is leaning on offtake agreements, government-backed financing, and corridor diplomacy rather than direct mining operations in high-risk environments. —Namibia test case. As Africa’s largest uranium producer, Namibia is emerging as the proving ground for …
Africa
Africa & Latin America
US–China Race for Africa’s Minerals Heats Up in Namibia and Niger
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July 15, 2026
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8 min read
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