Africa's Solid Minerals Strategy Group Re-elects Dele Alake as Chair

3 TOYIN ADEBAYO African Ministers of Minerals have re-elected Nigeria’s Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Dr. Dele Alake, as Chairman of the Africa Minerals Strategy Group (AMSG), reaffirming his leadership in driving a united continental agenda for value addition and economic growth through solid minerals. Alake was returned unopposed at the 2026 Annual General Meeting of the AMSG, held on the sidelines of the Future Minerals Forum (FMF) in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. He was first unanimously elected as the pioneer chairman of the 24-member ministerial forum in 2024. The AMSG, which brings together African ministers responsible for minerals and mining, is focused on coordinated strategies to maximise beneficiation, value addition and shared prosperity from Africa’s vast mineral endowment. As part of moves to strengthen its institutional framework, the forum approved the creation of new leadership positions, including Vice-Chairman, Deputy Secretary-General and Financial Secretary, with all positions equitably zoned across Africa’s sub-regions to promote balance and inclusion. Under the new structure, Alake continues as Chairman representing West Africa, while the Minister of Mines of the Democratic Republic of Congo, Hon. Louis Watum Kabamba, was elected Vice-Chairman for Central Africa. Uganda retains the position of Secretary-General for East Africa, Mauritania was appointed Deputy Secretary-General for North Africa, while South Africa was zoned Financial Secretary for Southern Africa. The AGM also ratified a two-year tenure for the executive committee and agreed that zoned positions belong to member countries, meaning successors automatically assume roles if a serving minister is replaced. In his acceptance speech, Alake thanked his colleagues for the renewed confidence and urged African nations to deepen collaboration to unlock the continent’s economic potential through solid minerals development. He called for agreement on minimum financial contributions by member states and improved budgeting frameworks to strengthen the group’s effectiveness. “Once member states contribute, accountability will naturally follow. This will enhance transparency and boost the credibility of the AMSG globally,” he said. The forum further resolved to hold quarterly ministerial meetings, establish standing committees on areas such as sustainability, finance and institutional affairs, and work towards hosting a global minerals conference in Africa. Earlier, at a leadership roundtable on unlocking infrastructure funding for copper-belt production, Alake stressed that mineral wealth alone cannot deliver economic transformation without reliable infrastructure, coordinated policies and deliberate value-addition strategies. He cited the Lobito Corridor as a model of successful regional integration and pointed to similar opportunities across Africa, including the Lagos–Abidjan Corridor, the Walvis Bay Corridor and the Dar es Salaam and Central Corridors. “The real issue is not whether Africa has corridors, but whether they are financed, governed and structured to support industrial growth and long-term stability,” Alake said, adding that attracting large-scale investment requires bankable offtake agreements, harmonised regulations and integrated planning across rail, ports, power and industry. He said the broader vision of the AMSG is to ensure Africa’s mineral infrastructure is responsibly financed and efficiently managed to support transparency, stability and shared economic prosperity in a rapidly changing global landscape.