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The Minister of Solid Minerals Development and Chairman of the Africa Minerals Strategy Group (AMSG), Dele Alake, has called for stronger regional cooperation among African countries to position the continent as a major force in global mineral supply chains.
According to his media aide, Lara Owoeye-Wise, Alake made the call at the Kenya Mining Investment Conference and Exhibition 2026, where he said Africa is at the centre of a new industrial era driven by critical minerals, clean energy technologies, digital transformation, and advanced manufacturing.
Alake noted that although Africa holds vast deposits of lithium, cobalt, manganese, graphite, gold, copper, nickel, and rare earth elements, the continent still captures only a small fraction of the value derived from these resources.
“For decades, Africa has remained largely an exporter of raw materials and an importer of finished products. This model has constrained industrial growth, weakened economic resilience and limited job creation across our nations,” he said.
He stressed that no African country can, on its own, fully maximise opportunities in the rapidly evolving global minerals market.
“The time has come for Africa to redefine its place within the global mineral economy, and that transformation must begin with regional cooperation,” he said.
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Alake urged African nations to harmonise mining policies, strengthen cross-border infrastructure, promote intra-African trade, and deepen regional value chains under the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).
“A fragmented Africa weakens our bargaining power. A united Africa strengthens our strategic relevance,” he added.
He also highlighted the expansion of the Africa Minerals Strategy Group, which was established in January 2023 by 16 founding member states and has now grown to 31 African countries.
According to him, the group is serving as a continent-wide platform for harmonising mineral governance, improving value retention, and strengthening Africa’s position in global supply chains.
He said AMSG is advancing cooperation among member states to negotiate better terms with global partners, develop shared infrastructure such as mineral corridors and processing hubs, and improve geological data systems to attract investment.
Alake emphasised the need for value addition within Africa’s mining sector, describing it as essential for industrialisation and job creation.
“Value addition is not merely an economic aspiration; it is a development imperative. It creates jobs for our youth, stimulates industrialisation, expands government revenues and positions Africa competitively in the industries of the future,” he said.
He added that ongoing shifts in global supply chains present Africa with a historic opportunity, but warned that success will depend on stronger governance, policy consistency, transparency, environmental responsibility, and investment-friendly environments.
Alake concluded that the conversation on minerals is ultimately about Africa’s industrial future, economic sovereignty, and sustainable prosperity.
“Through visionary leadership, strategic partnerships and continental cooperation, Africa can transition from being merely resource-rich to becoming truly value-rich,” he said.