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Paper short abstract:

This paper presents the opportunities and challenges for a just energy transition introduced by Sub-Saharan Africa's new political and trade relationship with the GCC. It presents several areas where a cooperative relationship between Qatar and Sub-Saharan Africa could yield positive outcomes.

Paper long abstract:

Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries, particularly the UAE, Saudi Arabia, and Qatar, are increasingly investing in Sub-Saharan Africa, focusing on infrastructure, energy, and critical minerals. These investments include large-scale infrastructure projects in transportation, including ports and railways, and renewable energy, especially solar and wind power. GCC countries, particularly the UAE, are keen on securing access to critical minerals like cobalt, lithium, and rare earth elements, essential for current global technological developments and growing green energy industries. These investments are part of broader economic diversification efforts by GCC countries, but have also strengthened political and trade ties with African countries. These new relationships offer several opportunities for both sides. First, Sub-Saharan African countries can leverage new sources of finance for mitigation and adaptation efforts. Second, new port infrastructure, such as Ghana's LNG terminal, offers new markets for energy exports from the GCC. Finally, the heavy reliance on coal in the Southern African region is an opportunity for new infrastructure development geared towards cleaner transition fuels. On the other hand, political instability instigated by GCC actors driven by economic incentives may result in unbalanced relationships and further entrench extractive practices. And given the prospect of funding, and the increasing debt burden on Sub-Saharan African countries, it may prove difficult to balance economic interests with environmental and social impacts. This paper presents a case where a cooperative relationship between Qatar and Sub-Saharan African countries could yield positive outcomes for both parties.