Chinese investment in Africa's mineral sector is facing intensifying international scrutiny, with allegations of environmental damage and human rights violations linked to mining operations more than doubling in a single year, according to a new report by the Business and Human Rights Resource Centre (BHRRC). The report, titled 'Shifting Ground: Human Rights, Chinese Investment and the Rush for Transition Minerals,' documents a sharp surge in documented abuses tied to the extraction of critical minerals across the continent.

Key Findings of the Report

The BHRRC report found that allegations connected to Chinese mining operations in Africa rose from 45 cases in 2024 to 100 cases in 2025 — a more than 100% increase in a single year. Globally, the report documented 326 allegations of environmental and human rights abuses linked to Chinese companies involved in transition mineral projects between 2023 and 2025. Africa accounted for 119 of these, representing nearly 37% of the global total.

The abuses are primarily associated with the extraction of cobalt, copper, lithium, and nickel — minerals essential for electric vehicles, batteries, and other technologies powering the global clean energy transition.

Countries Most Affected

The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) recorded the highest number of allegations at 52, followed by Zimbabwe with 20, Guinea with 18, Zambia with 15, and Namibia with eight. Researchers warned that communities living near mining operations are increasingly bearing the environmental and social costs of resource extraction as competition for critical minerals intensifies.

Strategic Deals and Community Exclusion

According to the report, the rapid expansion of mining activities is occurring alongside a growing number of strategic mineral agreements between foreign powers and African governments. Critics argue that many such deals are negotiated without meaningful consultation with affected communities and frequently lack robust human rights and environmental safeguards. This pattern, researchers note, risks deepening inequality between resource-rich governments and the local populations most exposed to extraction's consequences.

China's Dominant Role in Africa's Mineral Economy

Africa holds an estimated 30–40% of the world's critical mineral reserves, positioning the continent as a pivotal supplier for the global energy transition. China remains the largest extractor and importer of raw minerals and metals from Africa and is also a leading financier of mining projects across the continent, according to the report. This dominance has drawn heightened attention from Western governments and multilateral bodies increasingly concerned about supply-chain transparency and accountability in the clean energy sector.

What Comes Next

The BHRRC report is expected to add pressure on Chinese companies and host governments to adopt stronger community consultation protocols and environmental impact standards. International bodies and investors focused on ESG (environmental, social, and governance) criteria are also likely to scrutinise deal structures more closely. Whether African governments will leverage growing Western competition for minerals to negotiate stronger safeguards remains an open question.