The China in Africa Podcast View From Washington: What the US Needs to Do to Re-Engage Africa
Mar 19, 2026
Maureen Farrell, a US security and Africa policy expert at the Atlantic Council and Valor, discusses U.S. re-engagement in Africa. She explores critical minerals and supply-chain gaps, strategic opportunities in Guinea, Libya’s geopolitics and energy stakes, and Mozambique’s LNG and security risks. Short-term financing, logistics, and balancing competition with cooperation are central themes.
AI Snips
Chapters
Books
Transcript
Episode notes
Chemoff Sale Became A Geopolitical Tug Of War
- The Chemoff (Shemaf) sale saga shows geopolitics driving mining deals: Chinese Norin offered $1.4bn, DRC pushed back, then U.S.-aligned Virtus surfaced.
- Jérôme recounts how politics, DRC security needs, and board changes swung approval toward the American bidder.
New U.S. Miners Are Juniors Backed By Finance
- U.S. mining entrants are often small, inexperienced juniors rather than majors, driven by political cover and fresh financing.
- Farrell notes consortia and new names like Virtus are forming to pair U.S. finance with local mining expertise.
U.S. Needs Rapid Short Term Moves To Compete
- The U.S. must act quickly to support private sector bids because Washington typically moves slowly but now shows urgency.
- Farrell urges short-term infusions within 3–12 months to make U.S. offers tangible before China consolidates advantage.
