INTERVIEW: UNDP Calls for Africa-Led Mineral Development

Tokyo, May 14 (Jiji Press)–The U.N. Development Program’s Africa director has said that African countries should lead the development of critical mineral resources, such as rare earths. In a recent interview with Jiji Press, Ahunna Eziakonwa, UNDP assistant administrator and regional director, emphasized the importance of African nations taking the initiative in resource development rather than depending on major powers such as the United States and China. While China dominates the world’s rare earth production, Japan, the United States and Europe are seeking to diversify their procurement sources for the minerals, essential for high-technology businesses. However, Eziakonwa warned that this trend resembles a “second scramble for Africa,” reminiscent of colonial times. Eziakonwa said African countries must assume ownership of their natural resources and add value. The United States promoted its Lobito Corridor project, an infrastructure initiative to connect Angola on the Atlantic coast with Zambia and Congo, landlocked countries rich in mineral resources, through railways and other transport systems. But the project has stalled under the administration of U.S. President Donald Trump. Eziakonwa cautioned that there is a “huge risk” in allowing such developments to depend entirely on foreign ownership. “Africa needs to have full control of its own corridors and use domestic resources,” she added. Regarding natural resource development, Eziakonwa further warned that African countries negotiating individually with major powers are at a disadvantage. Instead, she called for the formation of unified positions, encouraging joint action among African nations. Japanese companies can join “timbuktoo,” a UNDP initiative to support African startups, Eziakonwa said, voicing hope that Japan’s soft power, such as anime, which is also popular in Africa, could stimulate business ties between Japan and Africa. Highlighting that there is already an anime-related project involving Japan under timbuktoo, she showed expectation that such efforts would lead to the creation of products for the global market. END [Copyright The Jiji Press, Ltd.]