The global push for net-zero carbon emissions since the 2015 Paris Agreement has led to renewed interest in energy transition minerals (ETMs) (e.g., Lithium, Graphite, Cobalt), which are necessary for the new generation of renewable energy systems that emit no or less carbon. The urgency in the search for these ETMs continues to escalate their economic, social and political significance globally. These minerals are found in abundance in countries in the global South, not least across Africa, with new discoveries being made in Ghana, Nigeria, and Zimbabwe. Consequently, a new wave of global capital penetration into communities with ETM deposits is emerging, heightening the political economy ramifications, including displacement and grievances. This presentation interrogates the nexus between the global demand for energy transition minerals and the political economy of mining communities with ETMs in Africa. It examines the local implications of global demand for ETMs in Africa, specifically whether and how this demand affects the socio-political, economic, and security dynamics of ETM mining communities, particularly among youth. It assesses the prospects and realities of new vulnerabilities and opportunities for youth and other at-risk groups in ETM mining communities.