The Africa Minerals Strategy Group (AMSG) has stressed the urgent need for African-led exploration, production, and beneficiation in the continent’s mining sector. This came during a high-level ministerial roundtable held on Thursday at African Mining Week 2025, attended by representatives from the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), The Gambia, Nigeria, and Egypt.

In his opening remarks, AMSG Secretary-General H.E. Moses Micheal Engadu said the meeting was not symbolic but aimed at addressing Africa’s real challenges in resource beneficiation. He called for structural reforms rooted in diplomacy, stronger African capital mobilization, and the safeguarding of digital sovereignty. Engadu highlighted the role of sovereign wealth funds, national mining companies, and pension funds in bridging financing gaps. He also urged the development of a continent-wide critical minerals strategy, noting that Africa still lacks such a framework unlike other regions.

“A continental strategy would help us protect and promote our interests,” he said.

From Egypt, Yasser Ramadan, Chairman of the Egyptian Mineral Resources Authority, reaffirmed his country’s readiness to work with fellow African states on developing value addition strategies. He also emphasized the importance of youth empowerment and boosting local participation in the sector.

DRC’s Minister of Mines, Louis Watum Kabamba, stressed the need to expand mineral exploration through new partnerships, greenfield projects, and the use of digital tools. He underscored the importance of policies that attract exploration funding and support local geologists.

“No one knows a country’s geology better than its own people,” Kabamba said, while calling for stronger cooperation between governments and chambers of mines.

Nigeria’s Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of Solid Minerals Development, Eng. Yusuf Farouk Yabo, echoed this view, urging African nations to prioritize geological mapping of their resources. He emphasized the need for licensed operations and adequate capacity for supervision, while also advocating for policies to prevent the export of unprocessed minerals.

Supporting the calls for collaboration, Lamin Camara, Permanent Secretary at The Gambia’s Ministry of Petroleum, Energy and Mines, praised AMSG as a platform for sharing models across the continent.

“We have Nigeria’s geological survey to guide us in mapping our resources. We want to learn from them and adapt their practices,” Camara noted.

The roundtable concluded with consensus on the need for united policies, stronger investment in exploration, and continent-wide cooperation to unlock Africa’s mining potential