The mining sector has been an economic focal point in Africa, yet mineral wealth rarely facilitates broad-based development. Ghana, Tanzania and Zimbabwe, all leading gold producers, illustrate this paradox: despite local content policies, large-scale mining has struggled to catalyze local industrialization. The critical minerals boom presents a rare opportunity to change this trajectory. Drawing on an enclavity lens and comparative case analysis, this talk examines how resource-rich African states seek to move beyond largely ineffective local content strategies by capitalizing on surging global demand. Specifically, it explores how local content is playing out within a context shaped by extractivism-led development, investments and Chinese supply chain dominance. This presentation provides key insights into how local content policies are being reshaped within a rapidly shifting critical minerals landscape.