• The European Union launched PanAfGeo+ Invest to promote EU investments in critical minerals across Africa.
• The program targets Democratic Republic of Congo, Namibia, and South Africa, building on the 2016 PanAfGeo+ initiative.
• Africa holds roughly 30% of global critical mineral reserves, driving a strategic race with the U.S., Japan, and China.

The European Union officially launched PanAfGeo+ Invest last week to support investments in Africa’s critical minerals sector. The initiative complements U.S. and Japanese efforts to secure access to resources essential for electric vehicles, renewable energy, and defense industries.

PanAfGeo+ Invest forms the second phase of PanAfGeo+, a program financed by the EU since 2016. PanAfGeo+ trained stakeholders from 54 African countries in geoscience and mining governance. The new initiative seeks to identify and support emerging projects of European strategic interest.

The program will initially focus on the Democratic Republic of Congo, Namibia, and South Africa. Details on implementation and budget allocations remain pending. PanAfGeo+ Invest builds on the AfricaMaVal project, completed in 2025, which established EU-Africa partnerships for responsible mineral supply chains.

The EU also pursues complementary initiatives, including Global Gateway, reflecting its long-term ambition to strengthen influence in Africa’s critical minerals markets.

Africa holds an estimated 30% of global critical mineral reserves, including lithium, graphite, and rare earths. This makes the continent a strategic arena for competing powers.

U.S. agencies such as DFC and USTDA have accelerated support for emerging projects, positioning the U.S. as an attractive hub for miners. British company Pensana recently abandoned plans to refine Angolan rare earths in Hull, U.K., citing stronger U.S. financial support, according to CEO Paul Atherley (S&P Global).

Japan, through state-owned JOGMEC, invests in Namibia’s rare earth sector, while China remains a dominant supplier and major actor in Africa’s mineral ecosystem. These developments suggest the EU trails in some strategic investment dynamics.

To compete, the EU must efficiently manage its tools to ensure secure, sustainable access to critical minerals. For African countries, the challenge is to leverage this attention to maximize economic benefits from their natural resources and support broader development goals.

Aurel Sèdjro Houenou