世贸组织总干事在联合国安理会上表示，全球对关键矿物的需求激增既为非洲等资源丰富国家带来创造财富、改善民众生活水平的机遇，同时这场竞争也已引发暴力冲突和加重贫困 [1]。
非洲大陆拥有丰厚的关键矿物储量 [1]。刚果民主共和国的钴产量占全球 70% 以上 [1]，赞比亚和刚果是主要铜生产国 [1]；南非拥有世界最大的铂和锰储量 [1]；10 至 12 个非洲国家拥有商业可开采的锂矿储量，15 至 20 个拥有稀土矿床 [1]。总体而言，非洲拥有全球约 30% 的关键矿物 [1]。
然而，这些资源的争夺正在加剧区域冲突。联合国秘书长指出，刚果东部武装团体从非法采矿中获利，导致平民蒙受代价 [1]。在苏丹，政府军和准军事力量为争夺黄金、阿拉伯树胶等自然资源正在进行激烈战斗 [1]。
世贸组织总干事恩戈齐·奥孔乔-伊韦阿拉表示："关键矿物越来越被视为战略资产，而非仅是商品" [1]。为化危为机，世贸组织呼吁资源国加强本地加工能力、强化国际法治框架、发挥集体杠杆作用 [1]。
The World Trade Organization's Director-General told the UN Security Council that the global surge in demand for critical minerals presents a potential pathway to wealth and improved living standards for resource-rich nations, particularly in Africa, yet this competition has simultaneously ignited violent conflict and deepened poverty. [1]
WTO Director-General Ngozi Okonkwo-Iweala stated that "critical minerals are increasingly being viewed as strategic assets, rather than mere commodities." [1] The UN Secretary-General highlighted how armed groups in eastern Congo profit from illegal mining operations while civilians bear the costs, and noted that in Sudan, government forces and paramilitary factions are engaged in fierce fighting over natural resources including gold and gum arabic. [1]
Africa holds approximately 30 percent of the world's critical minerals, with significant concentrations in specific nations. [1] The Democratic Republic of Congo accounts for more than 70 percent of global cobalt production, while South Africa possesses the world's largest reserves of platinum and manganese. [1] Zambia and Congo are major copper producers. [1] Between 10 and 12 African countries have commercially viable lithium deposits, and 15 to 20 possess rare earth mineral reserves. [1]
The WTO called on resource-rich nations to strengthen local mineral processing capabilities, reinforce international rule of law, and leverage collective bargaining power to translate the demand for critical minerals into sustainable economic benefits. [1]