Namibia: Between China and the European Union, the industrial gamble on raw materials

Namibia, rich in uranium, copper, and rare earths, has become a silent battleground for major powers since the 2022 signing of a strategic partnership with the European Union on critical raw materials. Against this backdrop, African Business reveals that China has concluded new agreements with Windhoek covering energy, mining, infrastructure, and agriculture. According to the media outlet, these commitments strengthen Namibia's position vis-à-vis its Western partners while testing the strength of its partnership with Brussels. The source specifies neither amounts, signing dates, nor the names of officials cited. The challenge for Windhoek is clear: transform its position as a supplier of raw materials into a true engine of industrial growth by capturing more local added value rather than exporting lightly processed minerals. For Namibian citizens, this could mean skilled jobs and new infrastructure, but also the risk of increased dependency if diversification remains merely theoretical. From an analytical standpoint, Namibia illustrates a pragmatic non-alignment strategy adopted by several resource-rich African states, seeking to maximize competing offers from China and the EU rather than exclusive alignment. An open question remains, due to the lack of available data: will this rivalry translate into transfers