Shaping the Future of Mineral Security
African Mining Week 2026 will host the Mineral Security Forum, bringing together governments, mining companies, development finance institutions, and global investors to examine how strategic mineral partnerships are reshaping investment across Africa and strengthening resilient global supply chains.
Held under the theme "Mineral Security & Strategic Partnerships: Leveraging Africa's Resources for Global Influence and Investment," the forum will explore how governments and industry can align investment frameworks, trade agreements and industrial policies to improve project bankability, accelerate value addition and position Africa as a strategic partner in the global critical minerals economy.
What the forum will explore
How governments and industry can align investment frameworks, trade agreements and industrial policies to improve project bankability, accelerate value addition and position Africa as a strategic partner in the global critical minerals economy.
Investment frameworks & trade agreements
Aligning national investment frameworks, trade agreements and industrial policies to improve project bankability.
Local beneficiation & value addition
Moving from raw extraction toward local processing and stronger downstream value chains.
Four agreements shaping the current landscape
Recent partnerships illustrate how governments are moving from traditional resource agreements to broader strategic cooperation.
A proposed $2 billion partnership with the US
Zambia is advancing negotiations on a proposed $2 billion partnership with the United States that would support investment in its health sector while strengthening US participation in Zambia's critical minerals industry. The discussions align with Zambia's ambition to increase annual copper production to three million tons by 2031.
A strategic partnership agreement signed in 2025
Under the US–DRC Strategic Partnership Agreement, both countries are expanding cooperation on critical minerals, infrastructure development and supply chain security, supporting the DRC's objective of attracting greater investment into its mineral endowment.
US-backed investment across four countries
The US-led Minerals Security Partnership is supporting investment across Tanzania, Mozambique, Botswana and Uganda in graphite, rare earth elements, manganese and nickel, with the US International Development Finance Corporation and EXIM mobilizing capital for strategic projects.
Sovereign capital diversifying into African mining
Gulf investors, including Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund, the UAE's ADQ and Qatar's sovereign investment institutions, are expanding their presence across Africa's mining sector. Europe's Global Gateway initiative, China and Canada are similarly deepening cooperation with African governments.
Who Attends
Governments, mining companies, DFIs and global investors
| Government | Capital | Industry | Advisory |
| Ministers & deputy ministers of mines |
Sovereign wealth fund directors |
CEOs, critical minerals producers |
International investment counsel |
| Permanent secretaries |
DFI & export credit officers |
National mining company leadership |
Geopolitical risk consultancies |
| Trade commissioners & ambassadors |
Investment bank mining desks |
Corporate development & M&A |
Policy institutes & think tanks |
| Regional economic community officials |
Political risk insurers |
Government relations directors |
Supply chain & logistics leads |