Africa urged to adopt governance model for critical minerals as high-level conference ends

To ensure that the conference's recommendations translate into action, delegates adopted an implementation and accountability framework that prioritises integrated national critical minerals strategies, transparency and revenue governance, parliamentary oversight, protection of mining communities, conflict prevention, action against illicit mineral flows, regional industrialisation and stronger cooperation through the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA)." According to him, the conference identified five strategic priorities: recognising critical minerals as a governance issue rather than simply a mining issue; integrating peacebuilding into mineral governance; promoting value addition and industrialisation instead of exporting raw minerals; placing communities at the centre of decision-making; and strengthening regional cooperation through African institutions.

Participants also urged governments to recognise mining communities as partners in mineral governance by strengthening their participation in decisions affecting land rights, livelihoods, environmental protection, and benefit-sharing while accelerating the implementation of African Union mining and critical minerals policies.