The Africa Minerals Strategy Group (AMSG) has re-elected the Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Dr Dele Alake, as its Chairman.
Alake’s Special Assistant on Media, Segun Tomori, disclosed the development in a statement issued on Sunday in Abuja.
Tomori said the re-election occurred at the 2026 Annual General Meeting of the 24-member group held alongside the Future Minerals Forum in Riyadh.
He explained that the AGM attracted African ministers responsible for minerals and mining, as well as senior policymakers and industry stakeholders.
The forum was established to coordinate continental strategies aimed at maximising value addition and beneficiation from Africa’s vast mineral resources.
Alake was unanimously elected pioneer Chairman of the group during the 2024 Future Minerals Forum.
Alake expressed gratitude to his colleagues for renewing their confidence in his leadership.
He described the renewed mandate as a collective responsibility to reposition Africa’s solid minerals sector for sustainable growth.
The minister stressed the urgent need for African nations to work collaboratively to unlock the continent’s economic potential through solid minerals development.
He noted that fragmented policies and weak coordination had limited Africa’s ability to fully benefit from its mineral wealth.
Alake urged member states to cooperate in agreeing on minimum financial contributions to support the group’s activities.
He also called for improvements to the group’s budgeting framework to strengthen operational effectiveness and institutional credibility.
“Once member states contribute, accountability will naturally follow. This will enhance transparency and strengthen the credibility of the AMSG globally,” Alake said.
NAN also reports that the AGM approved the creation of additional leadership positions to reinforce the forum’s institutional structure.
The new positions include Vice-Chairman, Deputy Secretary-General and Financial Secretary.
The forum resolved that the leadership positions be equitably distributed across Africa’s sub-regions to promote inclusion and regional balance.
The offices of Chairman and Vice-Chairman would remain elective and reserved for serving ministers.
Other executive positions would be appointed by member states to which the roles were zoned.
The AGM also ratified a two-year tenure for the newly elected executive committee.
It further agreed that zoned positions belong to member countries, ensuring continuity when serving ministers are replaced.
Under the new leadership structure, Alake continues as Chairman, representing West Africa.
The Minister of Mines of the Democratic Republic of Congo, Louis Kabamba, was elected Vice-Chairman, representing Central Africa.
The position of Secretary-General remains with Uganda, representing East Africa.
Mauritania was appointed Deputy Secretary-General, representing North Africa.
South Africa was zoned the position of Financial Secretary, representing Southern Africa.
The AGM further resolved to hold quarterly ministerial meetings to sustain momentum and policy coordination.
It also ratified the establishment of standing committees to drive technical work and sectoral reforms.
Members agreed to take steps toward hosting a global minerals conference in Africa, similar to the Future Minerals Forum.
Alake spoke at a leadership roundtable held on the sidelines of the Riyadh forum.
The roundtable focused on Africa’s infrastructure funding challenges within major mineral-producing regions.
Alake underscored the importance of reliable infrastructure, coordinated policies and deliberate value-addition strategies.
He said these elements were critical to delivering sustainable economic transformation across mineral-rich African regions.
The minister noted that unlocking capital at scale required bankable and enforceable offtake arrangements.
He also highlighted the need for predictable and harmonised cross-border regulatory frameworks.
Alake stressed alignment of rail, port, power and industrial planning as essential for mineral sector growth.
He said the broader vision of the AMSG was to ensure Africa’s mineral infrastructure is strategically designed.
According to him, such infrastructure must also be responsibly financed and efficiently managed in a changing global environment.
“This is not to discourage investment, but to ensure long-term stability, transparency and shared economic prosperity,” Alake said.
