In a world where the geopolitics of silicon dominates the agendas of Washington and Beijing, an unexpected actor is claiming its place in the global semiconductor supply chain: Africa. The continent, traditionally relegated to raw material extraction, now seeks to integrate into chip manufacturing, the most strategic component of the 21st century. It is not just about assembling devices: it is an attempt to achieve technological sovereignty amid the trade war shaking the powers.
Africa holds 80% of the world's coltan reserves, a key mineral for capacitor manufacturing in chips, but barely participates in the value chain.
From coltan to chip: the missing leap
Coltan, tantalum, lithium, and other critical minerals for electronics abound in African soil. Yet the paradox is cruel: the continent exports billions in raw materials and then imports finished electronic products at much higher prices. Governments like Rwanda, Kenya, and South Africa have begun promoting special economic zones to attract investment in semiconductor assembly and manufacturing. The question is whether they can compete with Asian giants.
The trade war as a window of opportunity
The escalation of tariffs between the US and China has fragmented supply chains. Tech companies seek production alternatives outside Asia to reduce risks. In this context, African countries with political stability and competitive labor costs present themselves as a viable option. Morocco, for example, has signed agreements with European manufacturers to set up chip packaging plants. But the path to advanced manufacturing —5-nanometer chips— remains a distant dream.
What is technological sovereignty?
It is the ability of a country or region to produce, control, and maintain its own critical technologies, without depending on foreign powers. In semiconductors, it spans from design to manufacturing.
The role of artificial intelligence in the new chain
Artificial intelligence not only demands more chips but also optimizes factories. AI systems monitor production lines, predict failures, and improve yields. In Africa, local startups already use machine learning algorithms to sort minerals and reduce mining waste. However, the digital divide remains enormous: without reliable energy infrastructure and robust data connections, advanced automation clashes with reality.
Challenges: energy, water, and training
Manufacturing a chip requires huge amounts of energy and ultrapure water, two scarce resources in many African regions. Additionally, the lack of specialized technicians hampers investment. Initiatives like the African Semiconductor Alliance aim to train local engineers and create networks between universities and companies. But progress is slow, and global competition is fierce.
What does this mean for the world?
If Africa manages to insert itself into the semiconductor chain, the global technological balance could shift. Not as a new Taipei, but as a supplier of intermediate components and assembly. For the powers, it would mean an alternative source of supply in a fragmented world. For the continent, a historic opportunity to transform its economy and reduce dependency. Silicon, at last, could be the bridge to a more autonomous development.