The future of US-Africa relations will center on critical minerals, private sector-driven development and sustainable energy solutions, according to Ramsey Day, former Assistant Administrator for the Africa Bureau at the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID).
“Critical minerals will be a critical piece of a Trump Administration and US engagement with Africa,” Day stated during a briefing hosted by the Energy for Growth Hub on Tuesday, underscoring the strategic importance of resources vital to global energy transitions, such as lithium, cobalt and rare earth elements.
The Lobito Corridor, a cross-border infrastructure project linking Angola, Zambia and the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), was identified as a cornerstone of this engagement.
“The Lobito Corridor is going to play an important role,” said Day, adding, “Critical mineral mining in the DRC and other countries is energy scarce, and so energy projects will be critical.”
Day also stressed a shift from traditional aid models toward economic partnerships.
“Conventional aid programs through traditional sectors are a way of the past,” he said. “We will be looking to the same goals – ending energy poverty, poverty at-large – but doing it through the private sector. Aid can buy you time, but it isn’t going to solve the problem.”
Highlighting the role of energy in Africa’s economic future, Day noted that agencies like USAID and the Millennium Challenge Corporation, among others, must prioritize fostering economic relationships. “Energy is such an important component of that,” he added.
Importantly, Day emphasized the need for local communities to see tangible benefits from energy infrastructure projects. “Local communities also need to benefit from the build-out of energy projects as well,” he said, pointing to the importance of inclusive growth in Africa’s energy development.
As Africa’s role in global energy markets grows, US engagement – particularly around critical minerals and energy access – will play a defining role in shaping sustainable partnerships and economic opportunities across the continent.
Energy Capital Power, 27/12/2024
