Africa’s mining future hinges on unity – Mining Indaba 2026
Experts call for unified strategy to unlock mining-led growth
This was the clear and urgent message delivered during yesterday’s media briefing, where experts underscored that regional integration is no longer a policy aspiration, but the engine that will determine whether Africa captures the full economic, industrial, and societal value of its mineral endowments.
The briefing, held ahead of Investing in African Mining Indaba 2026, unpacked the continental agenda through the lens of this year’s theme, “Stronger Together: Progress Through Partnership.” Speakers underscored that Africa’s next decade of mining-led growth hinges on political alignment, cross-border collaboration, industrial connectivity, and a decisive shift from dialogue to action.
Frans Baleni, Chairman of the Mining Indaba Executive Advisory Board, opened the session with a firm call to accelerate policy execution across the continent, noting that Africa has the frameworks and ambition but now needs coordinated delivery.
“Other regions have moved faster. Africa has the vision, frameworks, and ambition now we must close the policy execution gap. Regional integration makes good policy easier, more predictable, and truly investor-ready.”
— Frans Baleni, Chairman, Executive Advisory Board, Mining Indaba
Dr. Marit Kitaw, Economic Affairs Officer at the United Nations and member of the Mining Indaba Executive Advisory Board, stressed that Africa’s mineral wealth must translate into shared and sustainable development.
She emphasised that while most of Africa’s 20 major mineral-producing countries have revised their policies around the Africa Mining Vision, the real inflection point lies in continental alignment.
“Investors aren’t only chasing minerals they’re chasing markets, corridors, scale, and stability. A single country cannot secure bargaining power alone. Africa must act as a unified economic bloc.”
— Dr. Marit Kitaw
Dr. Kitaw outlined three priorities for Africa’s mining transformation:
(1) Deepening regional markets and free movement of goods,
(2) Connecting value chains across borders, and
(3) Investing in skills and technology to power industrialisation.
She added:
“We don’t lack frameworks we lack coordinated implementation. Regional infrastructure, energy, logistics, technology, and skills development are the backbone of value addition. Mining Indaba remains the platform where we shift from aspiration to action.”
The briefing then turned to the strategic direction of Mining Indaba 2026. Zeinab El-Sayed, Head of Government Partnerships at Mining Indaba, highlighted that the 2026 programme has been intentionally designed to drive collaboration across governments, regions and private sector partners.
“Integration is the thread connecting mining to energy, energy to infrastructure and infrastructure to manufacturing, creating the scale needed for African competitiveness.”
— Zeinab El-Sayed, Head of Government Partnerships, Mining Indaba
She confirmed that the 2026 Ministerial Symposium will convene leaders from South Africa, Ghana, Zambia, DRC, Botswana, Angola, and others to showcase real models of cross-border collaboration from shared energy projects to harmonised policy frameworks and interconnected transport corridors.
“Progress cannot happen in isolation. This year, we are aligning ecosystems, timelines, and national priorities to unlock scale. Regional integration is the blueprint.”
Mining Indaba’s Product Director, Laura Nicholson, reinforced that MI26 represents a pivotal moment in how the continent defines and advances its mining future. “Mining Indaba is no longer just where people meet it’s where Africa’s mining trajectory is reshaped. We are enabling meaningful dialogue that changes the narrative of what Africa can achieve.”
— Laura Nicholson, Product Director, Mining Indaba
Nicholson highlighted the need to amplify success stories across the continent, from community participation and youth innovation to downstream industrial growth, infrastructure expansion and value chain development.
She noted that Africa’s strengths are tangible and growing and that the mining sector continues to build the economies, industries and infrastructure that will enable Africa to stand confidently on its own. Nicholson also underscored the growing stakeholder universe at Mining Indaba, which now includes governments, investors, miners, OEMs, communities, youth and downstream industries, all forming part of a “connected value chain that is critical for Africa’s industrialisation.”
Nicholson closed with exciting news on changing the global perception of mining. ICMM, a strategic partner for Mining Indaba 2026 recently supported the world first: the deepest underground marathon ever recorded, breaking two Guinness World Records. A documentary capturing this achievement will premiere at Mining Indaba 2026, showcasing an industry driven by innovation, resilience and opportunity.
“The documentary will challenge outdated perceptions. Mining is an industry of innovation, resilience, skills development, and opportunity. This is the narrative we are amplifying Africa’s mining story is one of progress.”
The message from all speakers was unequivocal: Africa has the resources, the policy frameworks, and the continental vision. The next frontier is collective execution.
Mining Indaba 2026 will be the platform driving this shift through bold dialogue, cross-border partnerships, deal-making, and policy harmonisation all under the unifying theme: “Stronger Together: Progress Through Partnership.”
This is where Africa’s mining transformation blueprint will be shaped and where stakeholders across the value chain will be called upon to commit, collaborate, and deliver.
Register today to be part of the conversations that will define Africa’s mining future.
