The President of AmCham Côte d’Ivoire, Felicia Djibo, took part in high-level breakfast roundtables and strategic sessions during the 2026 edition of the Investing in African Mining Indaba, held from February 9–12 in Cape Town.
Recognized as one of the world’s leading mining investment conferences, Mining Indaba 2026 convened policymakers, investors, industry executives, and development partners to address the evolving dynamics of Africa’s mining sector amid rising global demand for critical minerals.
Three Defining Pillars: Partnership, Sustainability, and Women’s Leadership
This year’s discussions centered on three strategic pillars shaping the future of mining: strengthened partnerships, sustainable resource development, and the leadership role of women in driving the energy transition.
With approximately 30% of the world’s known critical mineral reserves and more than 70% of global cobalt production, Africa occupies a pivotal position in the global supply chain. As demand accelerates for minerals essential to clean energy technologies, electric mobility, and advanced manufacturing, the continent’s strategic relevance continues to grow.
Participants underscored the importance of building diversified and resilient supply chains to enhance global economic competitiveness while advancing climate and technological goals.
From Extraction to Value Creation
A central theme at Indaba 2026 was the need to shift from a traditional extractive model toward value addition and industrial transformation. Leaders emphasized that African nations must expand local processing, beneficiation, and downstream manufacturing to capture greater economic value from their natural resources.
Key priorities discussed during the sessions included:
- Strengthening regulatory predictability to attract long-term investment
- Promoting value addition and local processing
- Expanding infrastructure and regional development corridors
- Advancing responsible and transparent mining practices
- Mobilizing innovative financing and risk mitigation instruments
Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) standards were highlighted as essential benchmarks for sustainable competitiveness. Stakeholders stressed that transparency, responsible resource management, and inclusive leadership — particularly the empowerment of women — are critical to the sector’s long-term resilience.
Strengthening U.S.–Côte d’Ivoire Commercial Dialogue
Through its participation, AmCham Côte d’Ivoire reaffirmed its commitment to fostering strategic commercial dialogue between the United States and Côte d’Ivoire. The organization continues to advocate for responsible industrial development, enhanced bilateral partnerships, and shared prosperity.
As global competition around critical minerals intensifies, Mining Indaba 2026 delivered a clear message:
Africa is no longer viewed merely as a source of raw materials. It is emerging as a strategic partner in shaping the future of global energy systems, technological innovation, and economic security.
