By: Ndlovu Nqobile
Leaders from Africa’s mining, policy, and investment landscape are calling for regional integration ahead of the 2026 Investing in African Mining Indaba (MI26) in Johannesburg, South Africa.
Speaking during a media briefing held yesterday in Johannesburg, the leaders emphasized solidarity, cross-border partnerships, and inclusive growth as the driving forces of the continent’s next mining era.
“I am going to talk to you about the theme of solidarity,” Said Frans Baleni, Chairman of the Executive Advisory Board for Investing in African Mining Indaba.
“We are talking about working together, integration, penetrating the region, opening it ourselves for all and everybody to be involved in an inclusive manner. And I think that’s the biggest excitement for me,” he added while underscoring the event’s renewed focus on unity.
Themed ‘Regional Integration as the Engine of Africa’s Mining Transformation’ Baleni noted that MI26 has strong early indicators of participation. “Numbers look like they are going to be very large. “The last time I checked, the numbers were looking much better comparatively from how we’re performing thus far, it’s looking pretty strong.”
According to Dr. Marit Kitaw, Executive Advisory Board Member and Economic Affairs Officer at UNECA, drawing on the Africa Mining Vision (AMV) and the African Minerals Governance Framework assessments, countries have made tangible progress.
“Countries like Zambia, and to some extent the DRC, score well on policies,” she said. “They have the right frameworks. But when we move the needle to value addition and actually implementing these policies, that’s where many countries score low.”
Dr. Marit Kitaw stressed that despite Africa’s strong resource endowment, value retention remains limited. “Most of it is still export-for-profit,” she said. “Botswana has diversified; Morocco has done very well because value stays in the country. But broadly, we need African agency. One country is not enough. Investors look for market size, infrastructure, and predictability. Regional integration gives us scale.”
She emphasized that with the African Continental Free Trade Area providing a single market of 1.4 billion people, “we have serious bargaining power—if we coordinate our voice.”
Turning to community-level inclusion and artisanal mining Zeinab El-Sayed, Head of Government Partnerships for Mining Indaba said: “Artisanal miners are part of the broader community, and there is need to formalize the sector and integrate them into the supply chain through ongoing support and dialogue.”
El-Sayed highlighted a growing shift toward community, youth, and downstream industry participation in Indaba-led dialogues—groups historically siloed from mining policy conversations.
Laura Nicholson, Product Director for Investing in African Mining Indaba, described how the event’s purpose has evolved. “We are changing the dial on what happens at Mining Indaba,” she said.
“It is so much more than people coming together for comfortable conversations. It’s about meaningful dialogue that changes what happens on the continent—for the betterment of the continent.”
Nicholson highlighted the 2026 theme, “stronger together, progress through partnerships,” underscoring the expanding diversity of stakeholders, including communities, youth, manufacturers, and technology innovators.
She stressed the central role of collaboration in driving African economic growth. “We are the hub. We are the foundation upon which African economies can be built. Let’s help everyone succeed together,” she said.
Nicholson also revealed one of the key attractions planned for MI26: the world premiere of a new documentary created following the world’s deepest underground marathon held earlier this year. The film, she explained, aims to reshape public perceptions of the mining sector.
“It’s about changing the perception of mining,” she said. “People should recognize mining as a positive industry that facilitates growth, skills development, and community positivity.”
According to the conveners, Africa’s mining transformation hinges on collaboration—from governments and investors to communities and innovators.
“A platform such as the Mining Indaba gives us the opportunity to come together… not just between governments, but the private sector, civil society, and downstream players,” said Dr. Kitaw
With MI26 scheduled for 9–12 February 2026 in Cape Town, the continent’s most influential mining voices appear aligned: Africa’s time to leverage its mineral wealth through regional integration has finally arrived.