Africa's Minerals Must Power Africa: Mining Indaba Calls for Boost in Intra-Continental Trade

Africa's Minerals

AfCFTA, regional value chains, and self-defined priorities take center stage in reshaping Africa’s mineral future

Africa holds nearly a third of the world’s critical mineral reserves—yet trades only 16% of those within its own borders. At the 2025 Mining Indaba conference in Cape Town, ministers, economists, and industry leaders called for a new era of intra-African trade and industrialisation, urging the continent to redefine critical minerals based on African needs—not Western frameworks.

South Africa’s Minister of Mineral and Petroleum Resources, Gwede Mantashe, emphasized that African countries must resist the external dictates that dominate the global critical minerals conversation. Instead, he said, Africa should set its own criteria and align its mineral strategies with industrial development goals.

With abundant reserves of cobalt, copper, manganese, and graphite, Africa is in a strategic position to power the global energy transition. However, exporting raw minerals without regional beneficiation limits Africa’s economic growth. That’s why the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA)—the largest free trade agreement globally—is being hailed as a turning point for the continent.

AfCFTA Key to Building African Mineral Value Chains

The AfCFTA, covering 54 countries and a combined GDP of $3.4 trillion, offers a platform to strengthen regional supply chains. According to Solomon Quaynor of the African Development Bank (AfDB), building regional value chains will help countries meet domestic needs before focusing on exports to regions like the EU—especially with the rise of barriers such as the carbon border adjustment mechanism.

He stressed that industrialisation cannot succeed in isolation. Infrastructure and cross-border trade corridors are essential to achieving scale, efficiency, and competitiveness. A strong example is the joint electric vehicle and battery economic zone being developed between Zambia and the Democratic Republic of Congo. This initiative aims to position Africa as a global player in the battery metals industry.

Finance, Infrastructure, and Strategy Must Align

Improved infrastructure and connectivity will underpin the success of intra-African trade. Institutions like the African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank) are stepping in with special funds to support countries and companies during this transition. Afreximbank is offering financing, technical assistance, and grants to reduce risk and unlock trade bottlenecks.

Kanayo Awani, Executive Vice-President for Intra-African Trade at Afreximbank, made it clear: critical minerals should serve Africa’s prosperity—not just feed distant supply chains. Redefining trade terms will ensure that mineral wealth accelerates industrialisation, reduces poverty, and supports long-term economic independence across the continent.

Africa’s future lies in mining for Africans first—building regional markets, investing in processing, and growing industries that transform raw minerals into manufactured goods on African soil.