A scramble for Africa's gas and critical minerals. Who wins? | Counting the Cost

As Europe shuns Russian energy supplies, it is increasingly turning to Africa to find alternatives. But critics warn, millions of Africans lack electricity and supplies are much needed at home.
Meanwhile, China has spent two decades expanding its political and economic relations with Africa. And Beijing is not alone; Russia is also widening its involvement on the continent, mainly through arms sales and mining projects.
Now, after four years of neglect under the Trump administration, US President Joe Biden wants to win Africa back.
All this, as Africa is also at the heart of a geopolitical scramble for rare-earth minerals. So who will win, and what does it mean for common people on the continent?
Subscribe to our channel bit.ly/AJSubscribe
Follow us on Twitter / ajenglish
Find us on Facebook / aljazeera
Check our website: www.aljazeera.com/
Check out our Instagram page: / aljazeeraenglish
@AljazeeraEnglish
#Aljazeeraenglish
#News

[@bahillosleepinggiant3446]

Africans should concentrate on serving the needs of their own people.

[@abdurashidwampamba8769]

You could have proudly titled today's program as Africa's resources for scramble

[@D-E-S_8559]

The global price of Natural Gas is deliberately manipulated by the west to undermine Russia --- best thing for Africa to do is to hold production in reserve or local consumption or reduce production to match the Wests energy purchase price cap manipulation. But I wouldn't pay anyone to listen to such idiots like NY Ayuk, who'd prefer to watch Africans handover national public assets to western corporate exploitation under the current prevailing market manipulation realities.... African Countries should hold on to their resources,evade signing new contracts, agreements or treaties under the prevailing conditions---only the US is making money under the sanctions and war regime, supplying Oil and gas and weapons to their western allies under arrangements outside of the common global markets... The real money will come at the end of the war, during reconstruction of Europe---AFRICA CAN WAIT!

[@anthonylew183]

If you want to know about the biggest issues in African countries just go back to 7:50 min mark when he said it all. The people who have forcibly insisted on manipulating & conspiring to control African nations, now they are in need of the same thing they said was bad for African countries, but are good for them. African nations don't need to be anyone's child, because as many countries on that continent have grown up as every European, Asian countries have also. African nations don't need no outside investors just do it yourselves, & become what is meant to be .

[@erictevoedjre3966]

I would say that yes Africa does need outside investors simply because the deficit in terms of infrastructure is huge and mining, processing and commercializing minerals requires good basic infrastructure. What the continent does not need I think is "development aid".

[@charlessutherland5572]

I truly believe that the former colonial powers still want to maintain an extractive dynamic with African nations. Why is this? Cannot Aricans decide from themselves that they need to create much needed infrastructure before "helping" nations that have largely ignored them in the past? Not to mention human rights issues with resource extraction. Think of the diamond fields in Sierra Leone being used to finance conflict and now recently, Russia using gold resources in Sudan to finance their conflict in Ukraine.

[@richmondhayford3166]

Well said, but sadly our brain dead leaders will fall for it. Really sad 😢

[@natacheiilonga]

Anybody else pick up on the underlying lack of respect for African nation agency and collective bargaining on global demand for minerals, in particular, there by the last speaker?

[@thomasthomasphilp4393]

Hope African people benefit from it

[@dexlab7794]

Yeah...

[@BatsiraiMusuka]

We never really. 😩

[@emailtat5860]

TTP: apparently, just apparently: how had they benefited from Russia and her communist alliance?

[@bahillosleepinggiant3446]

I doubt that unfortunately.

[@BatsiraiMusuka]

@@bahillosleepinggiant3446 we’ve had to find other ways

[@2Goiz_1ShanDA]

Humanity is becoming more desperate. I'm worried for the local populations❤

[@hamish1309]

Best wishes for Africa, hope your continent is not the future battlefield of the powers.

[@capitalism2128]

No doubt about that 😢

[@kush4286]

Future? It’s been and still is.

[@hamish1309]

@@kush4286 not on the scale I'm thinking.

[@kush4286]

@@hamish1309 what scale do you talk of? 1.The ‘Marshall Plan’ has long been declared on the continent. 2.Any country that attempts to take control and sell resources at a fair price gets invaded. Africans just don’t get it… SMH

[@Hayjalene2011]

Wake up Africa! Dont let them do this again!

[@cub_paw]

Very very pretty! Useful insights shared here. Would you know if transfers are possible from EU to AU medical schools?

[@habibmalwan5421]

Africa's natural resources belongs to Africa. Any time Europe talks about Africa's resources, the end result end up in making Africa poorer, ill heath. As and An African I am with the view that Europe should leave Africa alone. Let us use our resources to solve our problems.

[@mashobane6177]

Corruption is what makes Africa poor .

[@habibmalwan5421]

@@mashobane6177 Who is making the leaders corrupt. Who is paying the bribe to the leaders? its not Africans. Africans are not paying bribe to mine african resources .

[@aliciouskanu4119]

But we promise you people, Africa leaders will come to their sencenses

[@puraLusa]

Politicians no matter who they "lead" or where they from have a tendency to not have that many senses.

[@jacobfinder7476]

you are joking, right? African leaders are corrupt to the core.

[@stivinsmasai]

Black man You are On Your Own - Steve Biko One Day Africa will Write Its Own Stories - Patrice Lumumba

[@wernerheil6697]

EXCELLENT SHOW !!!

[@mahdieran1100]

Eventhough They are the world , They are rich in resources.

[@jarosawbielski2301]

Better a [good] name than great wealth, better high esteem than silver and gold.

[@itn-nq5tn]

I have never heard any African politician talk about developing Africa sad😢

[@Komeshokakunanwene]

Where have you been listening?

[@IamGodSon]

Sankara did. They sniped him out, but he went far enough and showed how it could be done.

[@kamogeloswrt9494]

@@Komeshokakunanwene Cyril ramaphosa

[@Komeshokakunanwene]

@@kamogeloswrt9494 Africa has a lot of leaders. You have only been listening to Mr Ramaphosa. Even Chakwera of Malawi talked about it last month. African leaders talked about it when they assembled together to form the African continental free trade area.

[@Haniboy7911]

Africa shouldn't depend in the resources there is to many ways to develop

[@Roosevalt5]

This is the first time I hear a penalist is very honest and unbiased insight about China's loan to the third world countries.

[@TheRJRabbit23]

Correction should be made- Russia, Chinese and American Companies are rushing to Africa not the countries themselves

[@realrager100]

I hate the title but it is what it is. Its like no one of authority is in Africa to chase out those mineral and resources thieving vampires. Oh, and if you see any local natives on your shopping spree ask for help. You can tip them a rocket launcher or an arsenal of guns 😢

[@muhammedjbah5832]

ah Africa, ah! great show by the way, unraveling phase II African colonialism and dependence.

[@user-iz5kj1ow1x]

Does Africa wants to fill the gap after what they have suffered by Europe.

[@pohanahawaii]

😉 Sure, Wagner Group is already in Sudan protecting precious metal territories and supplying missiles to RSF because Sudanese gold mines don't dig themselves.

[@emailtat5860]

PH: everywhere behind ,riot, insurrection, in poor Nations you will FIND the COMMUNIST INSTIGATORS , two names are ALL.

[@tulaprice3417]

"green renewable"

[@walterhunter3353]

His first concern was delivering gas to his European partners 🤦🏽‍♂️

[@RafalMichalAhamArabeChiikaw]

Charlie, Alfa , Betta Brocken Arrow, Brocken Arrow

[@mahdieran1100]

Why this reporter is focused in China.

[@187nata]

The reason is they Now know about Ibrahim Traore🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉

[@stephenallen4374]

Africa have too many internal issues and unstable and they don't have to technology to produce it or liquify the gas

[@ianshaver8954]

That’s what multinational corporations are for.

[@BatsiraiMusuka]

I can tell you have not really traveled in Afrika

[@marctemura2017]

Don't worry about technology we make they have it. We need to make sure Russia can never black mail the West again.

[@OwnershipStudios]

That is not the main issue though. THe main issue is the presence of the outsiders. African youth are educated but the opportunities are in the hands of the foreigners and the foreigners employ foreigners and divide the profits amongst themselves. Africans are not allowed the opportunity to develop their own. we do not need to decarbonise, the west needs to, they are out of resources, hence many wars on africa for africa

[@mightymulatto3000]

Not the people groups of Africa.

[@jamesmhango2619]

I still insist the African should change the way they think.

[@joshuansama3641]

Even though man has been there for last hundreds of years -western Man. 🤔🤔

[@KO.....]

We really just need the rest of the world to leave Africa alone for a change.

[@Houthiandtheblowfish]

being colonized under a new green label name again

[@admir3486]

As usual, everyone thinks about himself.

[@ChaosEmeralds-kl3ln]

Americans are the greediest non giving people on earth

[@speakup18]

And they asked why African are coming to Europe

[@capitalism2128]

Africa will remain colonised, right now you can't understand what African Union stand for watching Sudan paralysed by 2 giant countries USA v Russia trying to control it and other African leaders waiting for western countries to bring a solution 😭😭

[@butterfly9274]

Imagine 😢

[@marctemura2017]

Sorry, but we don't have a dog in that fight. That your problem. You Africans are doing enough to help each other. Maybe if you quite blaming everyone and take some responsibility for once things will change.

[@randomguy4116]

@@marctemura2017 Africans have the biggest victim mentality. Asia got colonized but understood what needed to be done. Soon Asia will become the center of world power (or one of), meanwhile Africa hasn't progressed since the 50s. Maybe except having babies that is

[@biggrhymees88one]

​@Marc Temura yes. Talking about the History of Africa is blaming other people.

[@JanBruunAndersen]

Answer me honestly: Do you think China is really investing in Africa, or is it spending money and buying Africa?

[@emmanuelankomah6343]

YES looking at what chinese has done in Ghana some few years against 500 years of the West, we surely prefer China

[@laserraiset3300]

@@emmanuelankomah6343 almost nobody lived in ghana for 500 years, exept ghanians. Unemployment rate high, so what they do there for 500 years waiting for somebody from far away to came, to build something ? everything have to built by someone else by people, who claim to built pyramids thousands years ago, and since when just resting ? 😂😂

[@emmanuelankomah6343]

@@laserraiset3300 since the europians stole both human and it natural resources and kept us in captivity in our own land

[@DiddyNadhiri]

and that is when China comes in... We will take Chinas Credit and we shall pay it. You guys continue using your Moral Diplomacy and see who will Africa choose to trade with after it has developed itself.

[@SibusisoMaseko1]

@@emmanuelankomah6343 Speak for yourself.

[@IamGodSon]

We are waiting for these thieves. Locked and loaded.

[@rodgersrodriguez4481]

Where does the need for more gas production leave the commitment to reducing carbon emissions?

[@2Goiz_1ShanDA]

I know who wins! 😊 ...yep the elite

[@rsun2226]

LOL, Europe turned to Africa for energy sources

[@emailtat5860]

R S : for FREE?

[@realbrock7789]

not africa they always lose lmao

[@vn3353]

Title should be: "How to steal Africa's resources"

[@ceasar8679]

Title should be :: "how to reform African governments and leaders to take advantage of the vast market opportunities in Europe ". The reason africa is so underdeveloped is because you don't take responsibility for your own failures and love only blaming outsiders

[@D-E-S_8559]

The global price of Natural Gas is deliberately manipulated by the west to undermine Russia ---- best thing for Africa to do is to hold production in reserve or local consumption or reduce production to match the Wests energy purchase price cap manipulation. But I wouldn't pay anyone to listen to such idiots like NY Ayuk, who'd prefer to watch Africans handover national public assets to western corporate exploitation under the current prevailing market manipulation realities.... African Countries should hold on to their resources,evade signing new contracts, agreements or treaties under the prevailing conditions---only the US is making money under the sanctions and war regime, supplying Oil and gas and weapons to their western allies under arrangements outside of the common global markets.... The real money will come at the end of the war, during reconstruction of Europe---AFRICA CAN WAIT!

[@jacobfinder7476]

Yes

[@ricardoxavier827]

Ethnic competition caused by wrong borders, meaned by the european empires, to finance organize and sells to both rival sides, weapons in echange for cheap minerals.... You forgot to mention that trully ,main reason of african civil wars and poverty....

[@happykitten5695]

🙏🌍☮💛

[@danielblue4460]

Go Europe, tap Africa to fuel your energy needs!!! Tap other countries to control you in the future!!!

[@puraLusa]

That would be europe building the infrastructure of bio-gas and becoming energy independant, not outsourcing.

[@emailtat5860]

Budget: don't be russian,or ignorant: think first .

[@tyronewilliams6518]

Its good to see change in Africa where the new young leaders are taking control of it's abundance of natural minerals and regaining its rightful place in the world order and those that took advantage of Africa will beg for forgiveness like the European Union.

[@brian.mwangi]

Europe is 4.4 times larger than Congo mister.

[@JanBruunAndersen]

When I think of Africa as a whole, I think of: - internal striefe and civil wars, often caused (or blamed) on religious differences - dictatorships - incompetent populistic leaders - corruption - homophobia - victim mentality and blaming it all on a colonial system that ended 70 years ago Who would invest in such a mess? I would not. Clean up house and maybe investments will come.

[@emmanuelankomah6343]

You don't really know who are behind it, ask why the colonizers are here in Africa. Corruption it takes two tango

[@kenjimallone2191]

Nah. You just mad at Africa because of Homophobia. Get lost Pilgrim. Invest in Ghey Europe where the White Man is in decline. This is what your people do in Europe. "A young boy in Germany is forcefully removed from his family by child protection services & police. The school was informed that he was being taught that homosexuality & trans was not acceptable in Islam."

[@gedenironald8635]

Who cares what you think, Africans have been developing their continent since year 2000, worry about your extreme poverty in Ukraine, Moldova and many Eastern European countries, invest it in your impoverished European countries. When I think of Europe I think -The white devils -dictatorship -Wars -Homosexuals -Corrupt dictators like the one in Hungary and Benjamin Netanyahu -Satanic mentality and thieves who steal from these smaller African and South American countries. Use your own advise for yourselves. Africa does not need you white devils.

[@franzjoseph1837]

Mna acts like we can't read a history book. Who helped assassinate Sankara? Who couped the Nkrumah administration? What happened to Patrcie Luvumba? What are the effects of the CFA franc on African exports and investments? How many African dictatorships are friends of the West and receive Western arms that they use on dissidents? Why do the Americans not sanction Cameroon or Eygpt or Rwanda who are all either supporting terror in other countries or have literal dictators? Jan, stay in your lane.

[@BatsiraiMusuka]

Even as you literally watch a news report about how we are providing you with fuel?

[@mikedc]

Trump2024

[@dgdfgfnh968]

africa will be huts no more.

[@shanaazcloete8531]

Not with the type of corrupt leadership in Africa.

[@puraLusa]

There are still tents in saudi arabia. Huts is actually very eficient way of housing. Same as going to dominican airport and seeing the whole roof built traditionally. U really need to travel more and actually learn about the world.

[@keshi5541]

Ever actually been to an African hut? Its actually not that bad with a few changes I needed to be implemented, honestly I wouldn't mind if they continued using them but maybe a bit more modernized as an even cheaper alternative to having a house or apartment in the future. But not used as a general standard of living home but more of like a temporarly place to stay in comparison to sleeping outside on the streets or in a tent. They are much cheaper to build, better for the environment, take less space which could help against homelessness due to them being able to be built for cheaper and built through less tools (even quicker than houses). A hut is a much larger improvement than a standard tent and in fact much safer with better insulation. The only issue is maintenence of the huts and some type of protection needed for floods.

[@jacobfinder7476]

That's a joke..

[@emailtat5860]

TheLazy S: you could see HUTS in CHINA : and YES , will NOT, when AFRICA will STAND UP FOR AFRICA, and not SELLING HERSELF TO FAKE FRIENDS for 2% PERPETUAL DEBITS, .

[@kenjimallone2191]

BRICS FOR THE WIN! Africa will always get a fair deal with BRICS!

[@emailtat5860]

K M have to be an African ax handle always... he will profit .

[@massaalex8146]

Thats a lie. There is no difference, Russia, China, USA and Eu have the same interests.

[@emailtat5860]

@@massaalex8146 how so?

[@kamogeloswrt9494]

BITPOWER FOR THE WIN.

[@kenjimallone2191]

@@kamogeloswrt9494 WHO?!