Days later Hassan’s office said that the two sides were close to agreeing a $1.4 billion minerals deal. He is not part of US President Donald J Trump’s inner circle, but Ervin Graves co-founder Tom Graves, is a former Republican Congressman for Georgia. His contract with Tanzania commits him to ‘Identify and equip credible champions to reinforce Tanzania’s strategic value’. As minerals access has emerged as a foreign policy priority of the Trump administration, particularly in Africa. Ervin Graves says it will ‘highlight Tanzania’s robust rare earth mineral deposits.’Copyright © Africa Confidential 2026https://www.africa-confidential.comPrepared for Free Article on 19/01/2026 at 10:51.

Source: The North Africa Journal January 18, 2026 21:38 UTC