•Urge continent to unite and catalyse economic growth through solid minerals

The Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Dr. Dele Alake, has been re-elected Chairman of the Africa Minerals Strategy Group (AMSG)—a continental ministerial forum of African Ministers responsible for minerals and mining, committed to coordinated action aimed at maximising value addition and beneficiation from Africa’s vast mineral resources.

Dr. Alake was first unanimously elected as the pioneer Chairman of the AMSG in 2024 on the sidelines of the Future Minerals Forum (FMF). He was re-elected at the 2026 Annual General Meeting (AGM) of the group, held on the sidelines of the same conference in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

As part of efforts to strengthen its institutional framework, the AMSG approved the creation of additional leadership positions, including Vice-Chairman, Deputy Secretary-General, and Financial Secretary. The forum further resolved that these positions be equitably distributed across Africa’s sub-regions to promote inclusion and regional balance.

While the positions of Chairman and Vice-Chairman are elective and reserved for serving ministers, other positions are appointed by member states to which they are zoned.

Under the new leadership structure, Nigeria’s Dr. Dele Alake continues as Chairman of the 24-member forum, representing West Africa. The Minister of Mines of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Hon. Louis Watum Kabamba, was elected Vice-Chairman, representing Central Africa. The position of Secretary-General remains with Uganda (East Africa), Mauritania was appointed Deputy Secretary-General (North Africa), while South Africa was zoned the position of Financial Secretary.

The AGM also ratified a two-year tenure for the newly elected executive committee and agreed that zoned positions belong to member countries, such that where a serving minister is replaced, the successor automatically assumes the role.

In his acceptance speech, Dr. Alake expressed gratitude to his colleagues for the renewed confidence reposed in him, stressing the urgent need for African nations to work collaboratively to unlock the continent’s economic potentials through solid minerals development. He called on member states to agree on minimum financial contributions and to refine the group’s budgeting framework to strengthen its operational effectiveness.

“Once member states contribute, accountability will naturally follow. This will enhance transparency and strengthen the credibility of the AMSG before the global community,” the Minister stated.

The AGM further resolved to hold quarterly ministerial meetings and ratified the establishment of standing committees, including Legal, Institutional Affairs & Human Resources; Sustainability and Responsible Mining; Finance, Budget & Resource Mobilisation, among others. It was also agreed that steps be taken towards hosting a global minerals conference in Africa, similar to the FMF.

Speaking earlier at a Leadership Roundtable themed “Africa: Unlocking Infrastructure Funding for Copper-Belt Production”—held on the sidelines of the FMF and attended by African Ministers of Minerals, development partners and private-sector stakeholders—Dr. Alake emphasized that mineral production alone cannot deliver lasting economic transformation without reliable infrastructure, coordinated policies and deliberate value-addition strategies.

He cited the Lobito Corridor as a model of what is achievable when rail, ports, energy systems and policy alignment work in synergy. He posited that similar opportunities exist across the continent including the Lagos–Abidjan Corridor linking Nigeria, Benin, Togo, Ghana and Côte d’Ivoire; the Walvis Bay Corridor connecting Southern Africa’s mining regions to global markets; the Dar es Salaam and Central Corridors serving East and Central Africa amongst others.

According to the Minister: “The real question is not whether Africa has corridors, but whether these corridors are being financed, governed and structured to support industrial growth, regional integration and long-term stability. What matters is how financing is designed to reduce risk, attract private capital and sustain commercial viability while advancing national and regional development objectives.”

Dr. Alake emphasised that unlocking capital at scale requires addressing issues such as bankable and enforceable offtake arrangements; predictable and harmonised cross-border regulatory frameworks; alignment of rail, port, power and industrial planning; and clear pathways for processing, smelting, logistics services and industrial clusters along these corridors.

He added that the broader vision of the AMSG is to ensure that Africa’s mineral infrastructure is strategically designed, responsibly financed and efficiently managed in a rapidly evolving global environment—not to discourage investment, but to ensure it aligns with long-term stability, transparency and shared economic prosperity.

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