The Geopolitics of Critical Minerals: Balancing Security, Sustainability, and Growth
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Boubacar Bocoum, Susan D. PageDate & time
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About the Event:
As the global demand for critical minerals surges, competition over these essential resources has intensified, reshaping international relations and economic strategies. The Geopolitics of Critical Minerals: Balancing Security, Sustainability, and Shared Growth will explore the complex dynamics of resource control, environmental and social responsibility, and geopolitical power struggles. With countries like Ukraine, Chile, and the Democratic Republic of Congo, among others, at the center of these tensions, nations must navigate the challenges of securing supply chains while ensuring responsible mineral management which supports the economic development of host countries.
Moderated by Ambassador Susan D. Page, a distinguished expert in international diplomacy, this discussion will examine how global powers and local governments balance economic ambitions, security imperatives, and sustainability goals. Join us for an insightful conversation on the future of critical minerals and the evolving strategies shaping their extraction, trade, and governance.
From the Speaker's bio:
Speaker: Boubacar Bocoum, Lead Mining Specialist, World Bank
Boubacar holds a Master’s degree in Mining Engineering and Economics, and an MBA. With over thirty years of experience in both public and private mining sectors, he leads World Bank operations focused on promoting investments, governance, institutional strengthening, and facilitating dialogue between governments, the private sector, and civil society. He has overseen analytical work in areas such as mining community development, infrastructure, mining tax administration, mine closure, and skills development. Prior to joining the World Bank, Boubacar worked in the private sector, managing all cycles of mining operations and mining project finance.
Moderator: Ambassador Susan D. Page, Professor of Practice in International Diplomacy, Gerald R. Ford School of Public Policy
Ambassador Page joined the Ford School faculty and the Weiser Diplomacy Center in 2020. She has served in senior roles for the U.S. Department of State, U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), the United Nations, and non-governmental organizations across East, Central, and Southern Africa, as well as Haiti and Nepal. Page was the first U.S. ambassador to South Sudan and served as Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs. She also held positions as legal adviser for the IGAD-led peace process in Sudan, Special Representative for Haiti, and political officer in Rwanda, among many other roles.
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