Marrakech – On the sidelines of Morocco’s International Mining Conference, the Minister of Energy Transition and Sustainable Development, Leila Benali, engaged in a busy day of bilateral meetings with several African and international ministers and officials. This initiative is part of an increasing dynamic aimed at strengthening the continent’s presence in the global mining economy.
During these meetings, discussions focused on developing a unified African framework for ESG standards, alongside enhancing cooperation in mineral value chains. This aligns with Morocco’s vision advocating for deeper South-South partnerships, valuing African natural resources, and constructing continental models that generate value within Africa itself.
In this context, Benali met with Mauritania’s Minister of Mines and Industries, Tijani Tiyam, Saudi Arabia’s Deputy Minister of Industry and Mineral Resources, Abdul Rahman Al-Balushi, and the Secretary-General of the African Strategic Minerals Group, Moussa Michael. The meetings also included discussions with Vancet B. Molbah, Liberia’s Deputy Minister of Mines and Energy, the French Commissioner for Strategic Minerals, Benjamin Galizo, and officials from Gambia and Poland.
The officials concurred on the need to strengthen continental partnerships and shared perspectives on building modern governance for the mining sector at a time when the importance of strategic minerals is rising globally. Practical mechanisms were proposed to unify standards and develop the mining industry within Africa, giving the continent greater negotiating weight and a clearer capacity to protect its interests.
These meetings represent a push towards establishing a new African model for managing mineral wealth, aimed at restoring the continent’s standing in the global economy and enhancing its strategic independence through balanced and sustainable cooperation.
