Leila Benali: Morocco Establishes Itself as an African Hub for Leading Strategic Transformation in Minerals
During the opening session of the second International Minerals Conference in Morocco (IMC–Morocco 2025), Energy Transition and Sustainable Development Minister Leila Benali affirmed that “Morocco is establishing itself as an African hub for leading the strategic transformation in minerals.” She emphasized that the African continent is at a pivotal moment concerning the reshaping of global value chains and the rising importance of strategic minerals within the global economy.
The minister highlighted that the presence of African ministers and industry and economic experts at this international event demonstrates “the continent’s awareness of the sensitivity of the current moment and the necessity to formulate a common approach aimed at protecting its resources and localizing industrial value within African borders.”
Leila Benali pointed out that the accelerating transitions associated with energy change make strategic minerals a central element in global industry. She confirmed that the increasing international demand for materials such as cobalt, lithium, manganese, nickel, copper, and phosphor sediments positions Africa at the heart of the future industrial cycle, given its geological riches and human resources.
Benali explained that this natural positioning of the continent “requires a cohesive African bloc capable of regulating exploitation standards, managing value chains, and establishing governance frameworks that meet sustainability, transparency, and environmental and social responsibility requirements.”
The minister reviewed a coherent path that extended over a year since the Marrakech meeting in December 2024, which saw the launch of a preliminary vision for the African system concerning Origination – Transit – Certification, followed by events in Nairobi and Nouakchott that solidified continental agreement on the necessity to formulate a unified African framework for ESG standards related to the mining sector.
She indicated that the technical consultations held between October and November 2025 among African capitals contributed to shaping a common format for this framework, noting that the Marrakech Conference represents a milestone in announcing the “Marrakech Document,” which will frame a unified African methodology in this field.
The minister also addressed Morocco’s national reform trajectory in the mining sector, recalling the comprehensive digitization of the national mining register, the revision of mining laws to align with international technical and regulatory changes, and the launch of a digital system to structure artisanal and small-scale mining, (fa7m.ma), as a national tool to enhance transparency and economic integration.
Leila Benali affirmed that this path is part of a comprehensive vision that positions Morocco as an industrial and technological center for renewable energies, the green economy, and value chains related to strategic minerals.
She stated that the current international context provides the continent with an unprecedented opportunity to launch a new African model for managing mineral wealth, based on standardizing practices, building common governance mechanisms, and developing value chains within African territory.
She emphasized that the Marrakech Conference constitutes “a foundational station for an advanced continental approach,” reflecting the political and institutional will to build an African system capable of ensuring the responsible utilization of the continent’s resources and enhancing its position within the global economy.
The IMC–Morocco 2025 Conference, continuing until November 26, serves as a platform for coordination among African governments, industrial institutions, and international bodies, aimed at formulating a common vision for the strategic and sensitive minerals sector in Africa.
