Congo-Kinshasa: Mineral Rivalry, Geopolitics and the Imperative of Peace in Eastern DR Congo
Eastern DR Congo’s eastern provinces sit atop lithium, gold, coltan and other critical minerals that power the global energy transition and digital economy. Rising demand has drawn a slate of international actors, from the United States to China, intensifying geopolitical competition in a region already plagued by insecurity. The author argues that sustainable peace requires the Congolese state to prioritize security‑sector reform and transparent mineral governance before expanding extraction. Coordinated regional engagement and harmonized global standards could transform mineral wealth from a conflict driver into a development asset.
Ghana: Ghana Falls 7 Places in Global Mining Investment Attractiveness Report
Ghana slipped seven places in the Fraser Institute’s Global Mining Investment Attractiveness Index, moving from 46th out of 82 jurisdictions in 2024 to 53rd out of 68 in 2025. Its overall score dipped slightly from 56.98% to 55.21%, while its...
Mozambique: Ustda Partners in Mozambique to Diversify Rare Earths Supply Chains
The U.S. Trade and Development Agency (USTDA) has signed an agreement to fund a pre‑feasibility study for Monte Muambe Mining Ltda’s rare‑earth project in Mozambique. The study will de‑risk mine and processing facility development, aiming to produce mixed rare‑earth carbonates for...
Uganda: Floods Sweep Away Millions in Mineral Wealth As Kilembe Tailings Collapse Into River Nyamwamba
Heavy rains in Kasese District have caused the Kilembe tailings dam (Dam C) to collapse repeatedly, spilling copper, cobalt, zinc and other minerals into the Nyamwamba River. Officials estimate that more than two million tonnes of valuable material have already been...
Mozambique: Fined for Illegal Mining
Mozambique's National Environmental Quality Control Agency (AQUA) fined gold miner Ecogems 21 million meticais (≈$328,600) for operating without an environmental license in Nampula's Lalaua district. The penalty follows complaints that the firm bypassed mandatory community consultation and displaced households without proper...
Nigeria: Federal Govt, AFC Seal $1.3bn Alumina Refinery Deal to Drive Mining Sector Transformation
Nigeria’s federal government and the Africa Finance Corporation have signed a $1.3 billion memorandum of understanding to build an alumina refinery, launch a nationwide geoscience mapping programme, and create a joint investment vehicle for mineral exploration. The Bayer‑process plant will process...
Nigeria: 'Digitisation of Mining License Attracting Investors Into Sector'
Nigeria’s Mining Cadastre Office has completed the digitisation and validation of its mining licence registry, making the country the 11th African nation to achieve this milestone. The move, announced by Director‑General Obadiah Simon Nkom at an African Minerals Development Centre...
Namibia: Decision On Omaheke Uranium Mining Will Be Based On Science - Government
Namibia's Ministry of Environment announced that the decision on the proposed uranium mining project in Omaheke will be guided by scientific evidence rather than political pressure. Russian‑linked Headsprings Investments, a Rosatom subsidiary, has applied for an exclusive prospecting licence to...
Namibia: Chamber of Mines Says Sector Employs 26.7 Percent of Namibian Workforce
The Chamber of Mines rebutted ILO remarks by highlighting that its members generated 20,843 direct jobs and an estimated 145,901 indirect jobs in 2024, accounting for 26.7% of Namibia’s employed population. It contested claims that the sector lacks local beneficiation...
Ghana: Tighten Mining Act to Halt Mercury Smuggling
Ghanaian officials and civil‑society groups are urging a revision of the Minerals and Mining Act to curb the rampant smuggling and use of mercury in artisanal and small‑scale gold mining (ASGM). The current legislation lacks a national mercury storage and...
Liberia: Mme Hosts One-Day Pilot Stakeholders' Dialogue On Mineral Rights
The Ministry of Mines and Energy convened a one‑day pilot stakeholders’ dialogue in Arthington on Feb 20 to address gaps between mineral rights, land rights and community obligations. Participants including chiefs, civil‑society groups, GIZ and LEITI examined regulatory, fiscal and environmental...
Liberia: Lofa Group Proposes Mining Ownership Model for Wologizi
The Lofa Senior Professionals Group hosted a workshop on Feb 19 2026 to unveil a ten‑year roadmap for a Liberian‑owned mining venture in the Wologizi Range. The plan proposes a three‑tier ownership split—40% government, 40% strategic investor, 20% community trust—and seeks $1.5‑2.5 billion...
Congo-Kinshasa: Journalists Investigating Fatal Mining Disaster Denied Access
Journalists probing the Rubaya coltan landslide that killed more than 200 miners were barred by M23 rebels on Jan. 28, highlighting a tightening media blackout in eastern DRC. The disaster, tied to unsafe artisanal mining, underscores the mineral‑fuelled conflict between rebel...
Namibia: Record Production At B2gold As Open Pit Winds Down
B2Gold’s Otjikoto Mine in Namibia delivered 199,139 ounces of gold in 2025, hitting the top of its guidance range and helping the company post a record $3.06 billion in revenue. The firm’s three flagship mines collectively produced 926,434 ounces, while a...
Zimbabwe: Small Scale Miners Dominate Fidelity Gold Deliveries
Artisanal and small‑scale miners (ASM) delivered 2.24 tons of gold in January 2026, far surpassing the 808.4 kg supplied by large‑scale producers. Both segments posted lower volumes than the same month a year earlier, with ASM falling from 3.17 tons and large‑scale from 903.2 kg....
Rwanda: MPs Back Tougher Action On Abandoned Mining Pits
Rwanda's Parliament endorsed stricter measures to tackle abandoned mining pits after a session with Environment Minister Bernadette Arakwiye. The new framework will raise rehabilitation guarantee fees and tighten licence renewal requirements, aiming to curb illegal mining and reduce environmental damage....
Africa: Africa's Regional Blocs Must Prevent a Silent Scramble for Critical Minerals
A new scramble for Africa's critical minerals—lithium, cobalt, graphite, platinum‑group metals and rare‑earth elements—is driven by global green‑energy supply chains. The article argues that regional blocs such as SADC, ECOWAS and EAC must coordinate policies to move from raw‑material exports...
Liberia: Workers Stage Violent Protest in Yekepa
Workers at AFCON, an Indian contractor for ArcelorMittal Liberia, staged a violent protest on Feb 18 at the Yekepa mining camp, leaving a police officer wounded and 27 arrests. The unrest, sparked by stagnant wages and unmet benefits, follows a...
Namibia: Mines Ministry Says Regulatory Powers Remain Unchanged
Namibia’s Minister of Industries, Mines and Energy Modestus Amutse told parliament that regulatory authority over mining and petroleum activities remains firmly within the ministry, including final decisions on petroleum licences. He explained that applications are processed by the Commissioner of...
Nigeria: Experts Say Carbon Monoxide Likely Cause of Plateau Miners' Deaths
Medical and environmental experts say carbon monoxide poisoning caused the deaths of 38 miners at a Plateau State underground mine, where poor ventilation likely allowed the gas to accumulate. Survivors reported breathing difficulties and classic CO symptoms before collapsing. The...
Malawi: Malawi Signs Strategic Mineral Deal With U.S., But Questions Linger Over Transparency
Malawi has signed a memorandum of understanding with U.S. trading firm Traxys North America to market graphite from the Kasiya rutile‑graphite project, aiming to supply up to 80,000 tonnes annually to the United States’ Project Vault strategic reserve. The deal,...
Ghana: President Sets Ambitious Target to End Raw Mineral Exports Within 5 Years
President John Dramani Mahama announced Ghana's goal to cease exporting raw minerals within five years, shifting toward domestic refining and processing of oil, bauxite, manganese, and lithium. He highlighted the sector's $6.6 billion export revenue in 2023 but noted limited local...
Africa: All of Africa Today - February 19, 2026
A suspected carbon‑monoxide leak killed 33 miners at Solid Unity Nigeria's lead‑zinc mine in Plateau state, sparking renewed safety concerns. Gabon’s regulator ordered a blanket suspension of Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, YouTube and WhatsApp as online tensions rose under President Brice...