West Africa: Lithium in the Sahel - How Armed Groups Are Exploiting the Global Scramble for the Critical Mineral

Lithium, the essential ingredient in electric vehicle, smartphone and laptop batteries, is at the heart of the global transition to cleaner energy. As demand for lithium increases, Africa, particularly the Sahel, is emerging as a key source of the critical mineral. The International Energy Agency predicts that global lithium demand will surge as electric vehicle production and renewable energy storage expand.

Currently, Chile, Australia and China are the top lithium producers, but the Sahel region is gaining importance in the search for supply.

Armed groups in the Sahel are capitalizing on the expanding lithium trade, with over 40,000 tonnes of lithium already being mined from African rock each year for international consumers. This figure is expected to rise to 500,000 tonnes by 2030. In a recent study, a researcher examined how lithium extraction intersects with conflict across the Sahel in Mali, Niger, Burkina Faso, Chad and Nigeria.

The researcher found that growing lithium industries are becoming intertwined with existing conflicts, insurgent activity and cross-border smuggling, all made possible by weak governance.

Jihadist and criminal groups, such as Boko Haram and the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP), are exploiting the weak oversight of lithium mining to generate revenue and expand their operations. If Sahelian governments fail to strengthen oversight, lithium could become another resource that funds conflict rather than development.

The Sahel region is home to some of Africa's most promising lithium deposits, particularly in Nigeria and Mali, with exploration and geological surveys expanding in Niger, Burkina Faso and Chad as well.

Governance, regulation and security are crucial factors in determining whether early gains from lithium reserves translate into broader economic development. In countries facing persistent economic challenges, such as Mali, Burkina Faso, Niger and Nigeria, lithium reserves are attracting investment and creating jobs. However, the same natural resource conditions that attract investors also attract armed groups, as these areas offer valuable minerals like gold, diamonds and oil that have previously fueled conflict.