China has deepened its economic ties with Africa, particularly in the technology and semiconductor sectors, through investments in mining, infrastructure, and digital ecosystems.
While Africa remains a minor player in global chip manufacturing, its vast reserves of critical minerals—such as cobalt, tantalum, and rare earth elements—make it a crucial supplier for China’s semiconductor industry.
Countries like the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Zambia, and South Africa are central to China’s strategy, providing raw materials that fuel its dominance in electronics production.
However, this relationship remains largely extractive, with limited local value addition, raising concerns about economic dependency.
Mining Dominance and Supply Chain Control
China’s foothold in Africa’s mining sector is unparalleled, with state-backed firms like CMOC, Huayou Cobalt, and Sinomine controlling key mineral operations.
The DRC alone supplies over 70% of the world’s cobalt, a vital component in semiconductors and batteries, with most of it processed in China. Similarly, Zimbabwe and Namibia export lithium, while South Africa provides platinum group metals essential for chip manufacturing.
Despite these resources, African nations lack refining capabilities, forcing them to sell raw materials cheaply and buy back finished products at higher costs.
This dynamic has sparked calls for policies to retain more value on the continent.
Electronics Manufacturing and Assembly Hubs
Beyond mining, China has established electronics assembly plants in countries like Nigeria, Ethiopia, and Egypt, primarily for smartphones and consumer devices. Firms such as Transsion (Tecno, Infinix, Itel) and Huawei dominate Africa’s mobile market, relying on imported chips from Chinese fabs.
While these investments create jobs, they do little to advance Africa’s semiconductor independence. Ethiopia’s Eastern Industrial Zone, partly Chinese-funded, exemplifies this trend—hosting factories that assemble devices but do not manufacture core components like processors.
Without technology transfer, Africa remains a consumer rather than a competitor in the global chip race.
Digital Infrastructure and Surveillance Tech
China’s influence extends into Africa’s digital landscape through telecom and surveillance projects. Huawei and ZTE have built much of Africa’s 4G/5G networks, embedding Chinese tech into critical infrastructure.
Countries like Kenya, Zimbabwe, and Zambia use Chinese AI-powered surveillance systems, which depend on advanced semiconductors—none of which are produced locally. While these projects boost connectivity, they also deepen reliance on Chinese hardware and software, raising cybersecurity and sovereignty concerns.
Some nations, like South Africa, are exploring partnerships with Western firms to diversify their tech dependencies.
The Path Forward: Can Africa Leverage China for Greater Gains?
To avoid perpetual dependency, African nations must negotiate better terms with China, such as local mineral processing and joint ventures in chip design. Rwanda’s collaboration with GlobalFoundries (a U.S.-based semiconductor firm) shows an alternative path.
Meanwhile, Nigeria’s proposed “Chips Act” could incentivize local innovation if backed by strategic partnerships. While China remains a dominant force, Africa’s future in semiconductors hinges on balancing cooperation with self-sufficiency—turning raw materials into real industrial growth.
Without this shift, the continent risks remaining a supplier rather than a stakeholder in the global tech revolution.