African minerals ministers have re-elected Nigeria’s Dr. Dele Alake as Chairman of the Africa Minerals Strategy Group, as the forum strengthens its leadership structure and pushes for coordinated infrastructure, investment and value-addition strategies to drive continental economic growth through solid minerals
African Ministers responsible for minerals and mining have re-elected Nigeria’s Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Dr. Dele Alake, as Chairman of the Africa Minerals Strategy Group (AMSG), reaffirming confidence in his leadership of the continental body.
Dr. Alake was returned unopposed during the 2026 Annual General Meeting (AGM) of the AMSG, held on the sidelines of the Future Minerals Forum (FMF) in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. He was first elected as the pioneer chairman of the forum in 2024.
The AMSG is a ministerial platform comprising 24 African countries, established to promote coordinated action among member states aimed at maximising value addition, beneficiation and sustainable development of Africa’s vast mineral resources.
At the AGM, ministers approved a strengthened leadership and governance structure with the creation of new positions, including Vice-Chairman, Deputy Secretary-General and Financial Secretary, to enhance the forum’s operational effectiveness. The positions were zoned across Africa’s sub-regions to ensure inclusivity and regional balance.
Under the new arrangement, Dr. Alake continues as Chairman representing West Africa, while the Minister of Mines of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Hon. Louis Watum Kabamba, was elected Vice-Chairman representing Central Africa. Uganda retains the position of Secretary-General for East Africa, Mauritania was appointed Deputy Secretary-General for North Africa, and South Africa was zoned Financial Secretary for Southern Africa.
The AGM also ratified a two-year tenure for the executive committee and agreed that zoned positions belong to member countries, such that any change in a country’s minister automatically transfers the role to the successor.
In his acceptance remarks, Dr. Alake thanked his colleagues for the renewed mandate and urged African countries to deepen collaboration to unlock economic growth through solid minerals development. He stressed the need for member states to agree on minimum financial contributions and a clearer budgeting framework to strengthen accountability and credibility.
The forum further resolved to hold quarterly ministerial meetings, establish standing committees on legal and institutional affairs, sustainability and responsible mining, as well as finance and resource mobilisation. Ministers also agreed to work towards hosting a global minerals conference in Africa, similar to the FMF.
Earlier, at a Leadership Roundtable themed “Africa: Unlocking Infrastructure Funding for Copper-Belt Production,” Dr. Alake highlighted the critical role of infrastructure, policy coordination and value addition in achieving sustainable economic transformation. He cited regional transport and logistics corridors such as the Lobito Corridor, Lagos–Abidjan Corridor, Walvis Bay Corridor and the Dar es Salaam and Central Corridors as key enablers of industrial growth if properly financed and governed.
According to him, Africa’s long-term minerals strategy must focus on bankable offtake arrangements, harmonised cross-border regulations, integrated infrastructure planning and clear pathways for processing and industrial clustering to attract private capital and ensure shared prosperity.