Can Gulf States’ Mining Surge Outshine Nigeria-South Africa’s Thriving Alliance?

Saudi Arabia and the UAE are making a $53 billion power move into Africa’s mining sector, targeting critical minerals like lithium, cobalt, and rare earths—resources vital to the global energy transition. This push pits Gulf power Tinubu established presence and the West’s renewed scramble for influence on the continent.

Meanwhile, President Bola Tinubu of Nigeria and President Cyril Ramaphosa of South Africa are navigating a complex relationship marked by both rivalry and cooperation. As visa restrictions ease and G20 partnerships deepen, could these two African giants be laying the groundwork for a stronger continental alliance?

We also examine the rising role of leaders like President William Ruto of Kenya—positioning himself as a climate and innovation voice—and President Paul Kagame of Rwanda, whose foreign policy agility makes him a key figure in the Gulf-Africa conversation.

In this episode, we unpack how the Gulf states’ mineral grab is reshaping African geopolitics, what the rise of Tinubu-Ramaphosa diplomacy signals for continental unity, and whether African leaders can leverage this moment to reclaim agency in global resource negotiations.

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