Chinese President Xi Jinping has called for African countries to retain control of their mineral resources and urged foreign powers not to turn the continent’s deposits into tools of geopolitical rivalry.
The warning comes as Kenya attracts interest from American, Chinese and Australian firms seeking to develop the Mrima Hill mineral deposits in Kwale County.
In a four-point proposition on China-Africa mining cooperation announced on Tuesday, October 13, Xi outlined principles centred on African ownership of resources, mutual benefit, high-quality development and a fair investment environment, according to China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesperson Mao Ning.
“Africa’s resources should not become tools of geopolitical struggle,” Xi said, according to China’s state-run Xinhua News Agency, adding that Beijing was willing to work with African countries to maintain a stable and predictable environment for mining cooperation.
A collage of US President Donald Trump (left) and President Willian Ruto (right), with a hand holding rare-earth minerals in the middle.
Photo
Kenyans.co.ke
Xi’s first principle maintains that African resources should belong to Africa, while the second calls for mining partnerships that balance friendship and economic interests to deliver mutual benefits.
His third principle advocates high-quality development, while the fourth calls for a fair and open environment for investors.
The principles appear to align with Kenya’s stated ambition to process more of its minerals locally instead of exporting raw materials, a policy the government has linked to job creation, technology transfer and the expansion of the country’s industrial base.
The statement comes as the U.S. steps up efforts to develop critical-mineral supply chains outside China, which dominates the processing of several minerals used in advanced manufacturing, electric vehicles, electronics and defence technologies.
Kenya has emerged as a potential partner in those efforts, with the government holding discussions with Washington on a critical-minerals partnership that could see refineries and processing plants established locally.
Mining CS Hassan Joho previously said the discussions involved several American government departments, including Commerce, Defence and State, as Kenya explores ways to attract investment while retaining more value from its mineral resources.
The talks are closely linked to the proposed development of Mrima Hill, where six firms from the U.S., Australia and China are competing for rights to develop deposits containing niobium and rare earth elements, alongside other minerals identified in the area.
Niobium is used in high-strength steel and other specialised industrial applications, while rare earth elements are essential in permanent magnets used in electric motors, electronics and several advanced technologies.
President William Ruto and U.S. President Donald Trump at the G7 summit in Évian, France, June 17, 2026.
PCS