As Africa moves to capitalise on rising global demand for critical minerals, regional collaboration is becoming essential to unlocking the continent’s full economic potential.

Holding around 30 per cent of global critical mineral reserves, including the largest shares of platinum group metals (PGMs), manganese and chrome, Africa is well positioned to play a central role in global supply chains.

Yet intra-African trade remains low at just 16 per cent, highlighting untapped opportunities to build integrated regional value chains. Stronger cooperation can help address structural challenges such as limited financing, infrastructure gaps and technical skills shortages.

Recent agreements demonstrate growing momentum. Gabon’s Ministry of Mines and Geological Resources has partnered with South Africa’s Council for Geoscience to strengthen geological mapping, resource assessment and data management.

Leveraging South Africa’s expertise as a leading producer of PGMs, chrome and manganese, the partnership supports Gabon’s efforts to diversify into potash, manganese and iron ore, while prioritising skills transfer and institutional capacity building.

Financial collaboration is also advancing. In February 2026, South Africa’s Industrial Development Corporation signed an agreement with the Democratic Republic of Congo’s Fonds de Promotion de l’Industrie to co-finance mining, energy and logistics projects.

By aligning development finance institutions, the initiative aims to reduce funding constraints and invest in beneficiation, processing and transport infrastructure to boost value addition within Africa.

Similar technical cooperation agreements with Nigeria and South Sudan further underscore a shared commitment to mining-led industrialisation.

Together, these efforts signal a strategic shift toward coordinated infrastructure, regulatory alignment and cross-border mineral corridors that promote job creation, industrial growth and long-term economic transformation.