The Minister of Solid Minerals Development and Chairman of the Africa Minerals Strategy Group (AMSG), Dr. Oladele Alake, has called for stronger regional cooperation among African countries to enable the continent capture greater value from the global mineral economy.
Alake made the call while speaking at the Kenya Mining Investment Conference and Exhibition 2026, where he stressed that Africa is strategically positioned at the centre of a new industrial era driven by critical minerals, clean energy technologies, digital transformation and advanced manufacturing.
Despite its vast deposits of lithium, cobalt, manganese, graphite, gold, copper, nickel and rare earth elements, the minister noted that Africa continues to reap only a fraction of the economic benefits from its natural resources.
He lamented that the continent has remained largely dependent on exporting raw materials while importing finished products, a pattern he said has hindered industrial growth, weakened economic resilience and limited job creation.
According to him, no single African country can fully harness the opportunities in the rapidly evolving global minerals market without collaboration.
“The time has come for Africa to redefine its place within the global mineral economy, and that transformation must begin with regional cooperation,” Alake said.
He urged African nations to harmonise mining policies, improve cross-border infrastructure, promote intra-African trade and strengthen regional mineral value chains under the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).
The minister also highlighted the growth of the Africa Minerals Strategy Group, noting that the body, established in January 2023 with 16 founding member states, has expanded to include 31 countries.
He described AMSG as a platform for advancing a unified African voice on mineral governance, value retention and strategic positioning in global supply chains.
Alake said the group is working to help member countries negotiate better terms with international partners, align regulatory frameworks, develop shared infrastructure such as mineral corridors and processing hubs, and improve geological data systems to attract investment.
He reiterated the need for value addition in Africa’s mining sector, stressing that countries that process, refine and manufacture mineral resources will be better positioned for future economic growth.
“Value addition is not merely an economic aspiration; it is a development imperative,” he said, adding that it would boost employment, industrialisation and government revenues.
Alake further noted that ongoing shifts in global supply chains present Africa with a significant opportunity, but cautioned that success would depend on stronger governance, policy consistency, transparency and environmentally responsible practices.
He concluded that Africa must move beyond being resource-rich to becoming value-rich through strategic partnerships, sound leadership and continental cooperation.