A scramble for geopolitical influence is playing out in Africa, where the world’s economic titans — China, the US, Europe, India and Russia — are seeking access to land and fast-growing markets, along with oil and gas and the minerals vital to the energy transition.

The continent also holds allure for many other nations, with the United Arab Emirates and Turkey in particular making inroads, and Qatar Petroleum entering choice oil and gas plays on the coattails of Total and ExxonMobil.