GABORONE, March 27 -- Southern African countries are stepping up efforts to secure critical mineral resources from organized crime and illicit trade, as governments push for stronger regional coordination to protect what is increasingly seen as a strategic economic frontier.

The shift follows a high-level regional workshop held in Gaborone in March, where law enforcement agencies, mining regulators and financial intelligence units met to address rising mineral-related crimes across the Southern African Development Community (SADC).

The region holds some of the worlds most critical minerals—lithium, cobalt, copper, graphite and rare earth elements—resources that are central to global energy transition technologies, including ...