Across Africa, governments are rolling out bans, quotas, and tariffs on the export of unprocessed minerals — part of a push to keep more of the value from the continent’s reserves of lithium, chrome, cobalt, and copper at home.
Over the past two years — and especially since 2023 — a growing number of countries have imposed outright bans or restrictions on the export of unprocessed minerals. In 2025 alone, Zimbabwe restricted the export of raw lithium and said it would consider limits on chrome exports; Botswana required that mining firms sell 24% of new concessions to local investors; Ghana banned mining in all forest reserves by revoking a 2022 regulation; Malawi put a temporary ban on all raw mineral exports; and the Democratic Republic of Congo placed bans on cobalt exports.
The measures vary in design and ambition, but they share a common logic: Exporting raw materials has left African economies exposed to changes in commodity prices while foreign investors reap the benefit. By keeping minerals local or controlling exports, governments hope to create jobs, attract investment, and build better foundations for industrial economies.