Cobalt is one of Africa’s most important strategic resources, lying at the heart of the new global energy equation linked to the energy transition and green economy. The continent, particularly Central Africa, represents the largest reserves of this vital metal which is used in the manufacture of electric batteries and advanced technology, making it an arena for geopolitical competition between major international powers. Controlling African cobalt is no longer just an economic issue; rather it has become a political pressure card and a tool for redrawing the balance of global power. In light of this reality, African governments seek to redefine their sovereignty over natural resources by imposing stricter policies on foreign investments and strengthening their negotiating position in global value chains, making cobalt not just a raw material for export, but also a pillar of the continent’s strategic influence in the international system.
Geographical distribution of cobalt
Africa is at the top of the global cobalt production list, controlling 83% of total production, as it has the 7 largest exporting countries in the world. Its importance is due to the fact that it is used in the manufacture of batteries for smartphones, cars and motorcycles, in addition to its use in medical technology and the aircraft industry. About three-quarters of cobalt is currently extracted from the heart of Africa, the largest percentage is also due to the Democratic Republic of the Congo, which tops the list of the top 10 cobalt-producing countries in the world. The ranking of African countries is as follows:
1- Democratic Republic of the Congo: The Democratic Republic of the Congo is the undisputed largest player in the global cobalt market, producing more than 70% of global supplies. Cobalt is often extracted there as a byproduct of copper mining operations, especially in Katanga Province (Katanga). This productive capacity has made Congo a strategic hub in the global energy transition equation, and it also contains the largest cobalt mines in the world, such as “Mutanda”, “Kamoto”, and “Itwal”.[1]
2-Zambia: Zambia ranks second in Africa in terms of cobalt production, benefiting from its presence in the African mineral belt shared with the Congo, and the Ministry of Mines and Mineral Development revealed that annual cobalt production in Zambia in 2022 reached 251 tons, which represents an increase of 2 percent from 247 tons produced in 2021.[2]
3- Morocco: Morocco is considered one of the most important producers of cobalt in Africa, as it occupies an advanced position after the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Morocco’s experience is unique compared to other African countries. Its role is not limited to exporting raw materials, but extends to refining and processing cobalt locally, which provides added value and enhances economic sovereignty. Moroccan cobalt is primarily associated with Bouazar mine in the Ouarzazate region, which is virtually the only mine in the world that produces cobalt as a primary mineral rather than a byproduct of copper or nickel mining.[3]
4- South Africa: South Africa has significant cobalt reserves, but it is often extracted as a byproduct of platinum and nickel mining operations rather than as an independent supplier. South Africa’s cobalt production reached 250 tons in 2022, and cobalt exports from South Africa are expected to reach approximately 2 million kilograms by 2026, with a slight annual growth rate of approximately 0.9%.[4]
5- Madagascar: Madagascar is an emerging country in the African cobalt sector, where the metal is extracted as a byproduct of nickel projects, particularly the Ambatovy project, one of the country’s largest mining investments. Although the quantities produced are not huge globally, the presence of cobalt gives Madagascar growing geoeconomic importance, especially as the world transitions toward renewable energy.[5]
Economic and strategic importance
Cobalt is a strategic mineral that plays a pivotal role in the global economy. It is used in the manufacture of lithium-ion batteries needed for electric vehicles and energy storage, making it a key pillar in the global energy transition.
First: strategic importance
Cobalt is a global strategic mineral indispensable in the manufacture of lithium-ion batteries for electric vehicles. It is also used in defense, aviation, and advanced technology, enhancing its connection to the national security of major powers. Most of its reserves are concentrated in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), which accounts for more than 70% of global production and is a geopolitical hub for international competition over supply chain control.[6]
Second: Economic importance
Often called blue gold, cobalt is one of the most valuable metals in the contemporary global economy, primarily entering the value chains of the renewable energy industry, particularly in the production of lithium-ion batteries for electric vehicles, smartphones, and advanced storage devices. The electric vehicle sector alone is estimated to account for more than 60% of global demand for cobalt, making it a cornerstone of the energy transition and green economy.
In addition, the cobalt industry contributes to raising the GDP of African producing countries such as the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Zambia, Madagascar and Morocco, where mineral exports, especially cobalt, represent a large percentage of national income and employment opportunities. The rise in global cobalt prices – which in some periods exceeded $80,000 per ton – has made this resource a key element in attracting foreign direct investment ,especially from Chinese, European and American companies seeking to control the mining, refining and distribution stages.
Cobalt is also used in the aerospace and superalloy industries, giving it dual importance as a high-value strategic commodity and as a tool to support industrial growth in high-tech sectors. This makes cobalt not just a natural resource, but an economic and development lever for producing countries, and at the same time a tool for economic and geopolitical pressure at the global level.[7]
Geopolitical competition for blue gold
Africa is witnessing fierce international competition for cobalt, especially in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, due to its largest percentage. The competition is fierce between the United States, China, and the European Union, with the Chinese acquisition. It is the most influential and dominant player in the global cobalt issue, controlling between 68% and 80% of the global refining capacity, which gives it a strategic superiority in controlling the supply chains for batteries and electric cars. On the African scale, Chinese companies in Kinshasa (such as China Molybdenum and Huayou Cobalt) have huge investments in mines, with long-term contracts that give them effective control over more than half of Congo’s cobalt production. This dominance makes Beijing the central player in securing global supplies, and employs it as part of strategic minerals diplomacy to enhance its global influence within the framework of energy transition.[8]
As for the United States of America, it seeks to confront Chinese influence through alternative policies based on strengthening multilateral partnerships. Washington launched the Minerals Security Partnership (MSP) initiative, which aims to coordinate investments and secure strategic minerals with the participation of allies such as Japan, Canada and the European Union. Washington also entered into direct talks with national mining companies such as Gécamines in the Congo , in an effort to secure more transparent supply chains and reduce its dependence on China.[9]
On the other hand, the European Union sees Africa as a key strategic arena for securing cobalt and reducing dependence on China. Therefore, it has intensified its efforts through the Global Gateway initiative, which aims to invest in African value chains, particularly in cobalt-rich countries such as Zambia, Madagascar, and South Africa. Eu does not only focuses on importing raw materials but also seeks to build local refining and manufacturing capabilities in Africa, which enhances sustainability and gives it a direct share in the global market. In 2025, the Union included strategic cobalt projects in Africa in the list of 47 projects it announced, confirming its move towards long-term partnerships with African countries, with the aim of competing with Chinese influence and reducing the dependence of European industries on Asian imports.[10]
In conclusion, cobalt today represents one of the most important strategic minerals that is reshaping the global balance of power. Its increasing importance has been linked to the energy transition and the electric battery industry, which has made it a focus of geopolitical competition between major powers. Africa—especially the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Zambia, Morocco, South Africa and Madagascar, dominates the global production map, which has given it an advanced negotiating position in the green economy. However, this position has become a subject of conflict between China, which dominates refining, the United States, which seeks direct partnerships, and the European Union, which focuses on long-term development partnerships, and between these balances, African countries stand before a historic opportunity to transform from a mere raw resource into a strategic actor capable of formulating its terms in the global market.
