President Bola Tinubu is set to lead a fresh African effort to ensure the continent gets more value from its mineral wealth instead of exporting it mainly as raw materials.
Tinubu will chair the Third High-Level Roundtable on Critical Minerals Development in Africa in Manhattan, New York, on September 21, 2026. The meeting will take place alongside the 81st United Nations General Assembly.
As Chairman of the Africa Minerals Strategy Group General Assembly, Tinubu is expected to host African leaders and government officials, ministers, investors, development finance institutions, multilateral organisations and executives from mining, technology and logistics firms.
According to an AMSG statement issued on Sunday, the summit is themed “From Resources to Wealth: Continental Cooperation for Mineral Value Addition.” It comes as major economies seek secure supplies of minerals needed for electric vehicles, renewable energy, advanced manufacturing, artificial intelligence, digital infrastructure and defence.
The group said Africa has large deposits of lithium, copper, cobalt, graphite, manganese and rare earth elements. However, much of the continent’s minerals are exported raw or with little processing, allowing other regions to gain more from refining, manufacturing and finished products.
“The Roundtable will focus on how African countries can move beyond the traditional extract-and-export model to build integrated mineral value chains, attract transformative capital, strengthen continental cooperation and secure a greater share of the economic value generated from Africa’s mineral resources,” the group said.
The meeting will also advance the Mutual Assured Development framework launched in Abuja earlier in 2026.
Leaders are expected to unveil the proposed Continental Integration and Economic Assurance Declaration, covering policy coordination, investment, local processing, supply-chain security and Africa’s negotiating position.
The proposed CIEAD Finance Window will also seek funding for mineral processing, infrastructure and technology.
“Building on the Mutual Assured Development Framework, the New York gathering will mark a transition from strategic dialogue to structural execution,” the group said.
The meeting will be convened by AMSG leaders, including Solid Minerals Development Minister Dele Alake and Secretary-General Moses Michael Engadu.
The Africa Finance Corporation, development finance institutions, multilateral organisations and private-sector firms are also expected to attend.
Established in January 2024, AMSG focuses on critical minerals policy, investment, minerals security and Africa’s engagement with global partners.
