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 nations to position the continent as a formidable force in global mineral supply chains.

It said that Africa must urgently redefine its role in the global mineral economy, stressing that such transformation can only be achieved through coordinated regional efforts rather than isolated national strategies.

Alake, who spoke at the Kenya Mining Investment Conference and Exhibition 2026, said that Africa stands at the centre of a new industrial era driven by critical minerals, clean energy technologies, digital transformation and advanced manufacturing.

He noted that while Africa possesses vast deposits of lithium, cobalt, manganese, graphite, gold, copper, nickel, and rare earth elements, the continent continues to capture only a fraction of the economic value generated by its resources.

Alake stressed that no African country, acting alone, could fully maximise opportunities emerging from the rapidly evolving global minerals market.

He, therefore, urged African nations to harmonise mining policies, facilitate 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 rapid expansion of the Africa Minerals Strategy Group (AMSG), established in January 2023 by 16 founding member states and now comprising 31 African countries.

He described the AMSG as the first truly continent-wide platform through which African countries are building a unified voice on minerals governance, value retention and strategic positioning in global supply chains.

According to him, the group is advancing cooperation among member-states to negotiate fairer terms with global partners, harmonise regulatory frameworks, develop shared infrastructure, such as mineral corridors and processing hubs, and strengthen geological data systems to attract investment.

Alake, therefore, reiterated the urgent need for value addition across Africa’s mining sector, noting that the future lies with countries that process, refine, manufacture, and innovate rather than export raw materials.

He further stated that the ongoing restructuring of global supply chains presents Africa with a historic opportunity, but warned that success would require stronger governance, policy consistency, transparency, environmental responsibility and investment-friendly climates.