Lithium in the Sahel: how armed groups are exploiting the global scramble for the critical mineral

Every electric vehicle, smartphone and laptop battery begins with one essential ingredient: lithium. The critical mineral sits at the centre of the global transition to cleaner energy. Lithium powers rechargeable batteries. Securing its supply is, therefore, an economic and geopolitical priority. The International Energy Agency expects global lithium demand to increase as electric vehicle production and renewable energy storage expands. Africa, particularly the Sahel, is becoming increasingly…