THE MINERAL BANQUET

Behind everyday technologies lies a strategic rivalry between the United States and China, focused on control of critical minerals, especially rare earths. China currently dominates this global supply chain, giving it a significant advantage. In response, President Donald Trump is working to reduce U.S. dependence, particularly by encouraging access to resources in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Rwanda, long exploited by Chinese companies. In this context, sub-Saharan Africa is becoming a key arena of global economic competition, where the energy transition also exposes major human and political challenges.