Kenya Nears U.S. Critical Minerals Processing Agreement
Kenyan President William Ruto told Reuters on Thursday that Kenya is close to finalising an agreement with the United States that would allow the country to process its own critical minerals, including rare earths and other strategic minerals, within Kenyan borders. Ruto said the agreement is already in development and could be completed soon.
Ruto made the statement after discussions with G7 leaders at a summit on the shores of Lake Geneva, where he represented partner countries and met U.S. President Donald Trump. He highlighted that the minerals will be processed in Kenya, signalling a shift from exporting raw materials for overseas processing.
The proposed deal reflects a wider trend across Africa, where nations are increasingly seeking to retain more economic value by processing minerals domestically rather than exporting unprocessed ore. Ruto called for a broader reset in relations between Africa and Western nations during the summit.
No specific financial terms, timelines beyond “soon,” or operational details were disclosed in the announcement.