Andrey Maslov took part in the International Security Conference on Africa (ISCA)

On May, 20, 2025, Director of the HSE Center for African Studies participated in the International Security Conference on Africa (ISCA) in Kigali, Rwanda. 

The participants of the event including security experts, policymakers and researchers from more than 70 countries discussed security challenges facing Africa nowadays.

Andrey Maslov participated in the “Critical Raw Materials and Supply Chain Warfare: Africa’s Role” panel. It was moderated by Joseph Warungu, Kenyan journalist and media trainer. Among the other participants of the panel session were Donald Kaberuka, Chairman and Managing Partner of SouthBridge Group; Kingsley Chiedu Moghalu, Inaugural President of the Africa School of Governance (ASG) as well as Zerbo Lassina, Chairman of the Board of Directors at the Rwanda Atomic Energy Board. 

The panelists discussed Africa’s strategic position in the global supply chains of critical raw materials essential for the low-carbon and digital transitions. Moreover attention was paid on how African governments and companies can navigate demand-supply uncertainties, attract sustainable investment, and implement transparent regulations to unlock the sector’s full potential.

In his speech, Andrey Maslov touched the topic from the perspective which is not often brought up while elaborating on critical raw materials. 

“Processing is the most important production stage, while only a small portion of raw materials extracted in Africa is being processed locally. The biggest demand for raw material now comes from AI sector, which is responsible for about 50 gigawatt of the global power capacity supply. By 2030, the demand is projected to grow for another 100 gigawatts of installed capacity, requiring for about $80 billion to be supplied additionally to the market. So, it is a powerful sector demanding growing amount of critical minerals. This will bring challenges for African countries, but the opportunities will also arise”. 

“One of the recent trends is that energy itself is now becoming a commodity itself”, – Andrey Maslov pointed out. “Apart from 10 years ago, now it’s not obligatory to haven a national grid connection to supply electricity to consumers and industries. It can be reached with the help of AI computing or even crypto mining (hashrate). As a result, there’s a growing demand for power produced by AI. Being one of the key suppliers of the world’s critical minerals, Africa can intervene on that level. In this sense, it is important to actively utilize AI facilities so they could meet the needs of the people”. 

The speaker also mentioned that, since the free trade isn’t the proper solution, it’s a great opportunity for African countries to step up and play proactive role, shaping the new world order. “It is government that must play more active role, especially when it comes to traceability and critical mineral certification”. 

He also proposed that creating an alliance between the mineral producing countries might make sense as it will provide officials with more instruments to aggregate the information on mineral industries, more means of control. “Taken together, it will help to improve the traceability system, thus, benefiting African countries’ economies”. 

Full video-version of this and other panel sessions held during the ISCA is available via the link.