Kenya is preparing to select a developer for the Mrima Hill rare earths and niobium deposit after five bidding groups submitted proposals, with the competition attracting strong interest from US-linked companies following the withdrawal of two Chinese bidders.
The European Commission has commissioned consultants to help Namibia draft a National Critical Raw Materials Strategy covering uranium, lithium and rare earths, as Windhoek balances competing EU and Chinese interest in its minerals.
Namibia and China signed nine cooperation agreements during President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah's state visit to Beijing in July 2026, including a green minerals agreement naming uranium, lithium and rare earths as strategic priorities.
Lindian Resources has completed the first production blast at its Kangankunde rare earths project in Malawi, starting active mining ahead of a targeted fourth-quarter start-up.
The US International Development Finance Corporation confirmed in April 2026 it was proceeding with a $50m equity investment in Rainbow Rare Earths' Phalaborwa project, despite a sharp deterioration in US-South Africa relations.
