China, the U.S., and Japan are competing for control over key African railway routes that transport critical minerals like cobalt, copper, and lithium—essential for electric vehicles and green technologies. The U.S. and EU are backing the Lobito Corridor, connecting Angola to Zambia and the DRC, aiming to reduce reliance on China’s supply chains. China is countering with a major investment in the TAZARA railway linking Zambia to Tanzania, and other rail projects reaching key mineral deposits. Japan, though less visible, is involved through multilateral partnerships. African nations like the DRC, Zambia, and Zimbabwe are using this rivalry to push for local mineral processing and economic growth. These railways could reshape global supply chains and Africa’s role in them, making this a crucial front in the global fight for clean energy dominance and strategic mineral access.