Intra-African Collaboration: A Pathway to Mining Advancement

The Strategic Shift in African Mining

In recent years, there has been a notable change in the African mining landscape, where countries are increasingly collaborating to enhance their domestic capabilities. Analysts highlight that such intra-African partnerships are crucial for transitioning from mere raw material extraction to fostering stronger regional industries.

According to Ishmael Nalule from the Africa Center for Energy and Mineral Policy, "by building technical competence internally and fostering peer-to-peer partnerships, African countries can strengthen institutions, negotiate better investment deals, and capture greater economic value from their resources."

Gabon’s Geoscience Cooperation with South Africa

One of the latest examples of this strategic shift is Gabon’s recent geoscience cooperation agreement with South Africa’s Council for Geoscience. This initiative aims to modernize mineral mapping, conduct new surveys, and train local geologists and engineers, thereby enhancing Gabon’s economic base beyond its existing reliance on oil.

“This is a timely initiative in line with the directives of our Head of State, President Brice Clotaire Oligui Nguema,” stated Minister Nguema Nguema. The collaboration seeks to unlock Gabon’s untapped reserves of iron ore, manganese, gold, and various strategic minerals.

Enhanced Geological Assessments

The partnership will involve comprehensive geological assessments throughout Gabon. South Africa’s Council for Geoscience will collaborate with Gabonese experts to analyze existing data, conduct new geological surveys, and generate updated resource maps. These initiatives aim to provide a clearer understanding of Gabon’s mineral wealth, facilitating the design of more precise commercialization strategies and attracting foreign investment.

Capacity Building Initiatives

Workshops, internships, and joint research initiatives are also pivotal aspects of the agreement. By exposing Gabonese geologists and engineers to advanced exploration techniques and best practices from around the globe, the partnership endeavors to build a skilled workforce capable of managing mineral resources efficiently. This development aims to reduce dependency on external expertise for both operational and strategic decisions.

Ghana’s Local Gold Refining Initiative

Gabon is not the only nation investing in intra-African expertise. The Ghana Gold Board has recently entered into a partnership with Gold Coast Refinery and South Africa’s Rand Refinery to refine artisanal and small-scale gold locally. This collaboration is designed to ensure that Ghana’s ASM gold meets international standards from extraction to processing.

Rand Refinery, which is Africa’s leading LBMA Good Delivery-accredited refiner, will provide essential technical and operational support for this initiative. LBMA CEO Ruth Crowell has described this partnership as an exemplary case study for sourcing responsibly from challenging sectors in the gold market.

Strengthening Traceability in Gold Production

Moreover, this collaboration aims to enhance traceability within the gold supply chain. Rand Refinery has adopted the gold bar integrity database, a system that meticulously tracks each ounce from extraction to the final product. This approach ensures greater transparency, significantly reduces the risk of illicit gold entering the market, and boosts international buyer confidence.

Ghana’s gold production exceeds 125 tonnes annually, placing it as Africa’s leading gold producer and among the top ten globally. However, challenges remain, as SWISSAID’s 2025 analysis estimated that Ghana lost approximately 229 tonnes of gold worth $11.4 billion due to smuggling and trade gaps between 2019 and 2023. Hence, local refining and enhanced traceability have become central to Ghana’s renewed gold strategy.

Morocco-Senegal Cooperation in Mineral Resource Management

Morocco and Senegal are also showcasing the benefits of intra-African economic cooperation. Recently, the two countries signed 17 cooperation agreements aimed at optimizing investment, technical collaboration, and sector-wide partnerships. Morocco, possessing a rich mineral-industrial ecosystem, has significant phosphate reserves that constitute approximately 70% of global deposits.

Senegal, with a burgeoning extractive sector, produces around 2–2.6 million tonnes of phosphate annually. However, much of its value is exported in raw or minimally processed forms. By integrating Senegal’s feedstock potential with Morocco’s extensive processing capabilities, the countries aim to enhance value-chain collaboration.

Southern Africa’s Diamond Sector Collaboration

Furthermore, diamond-producing nations in southern Africa are also aligning for greater market influence through the Luanda Accord. This producer-led initiative includes countries such as Angola, Botswana, Namibia, and the Democratic Republic of Congo, focusing on unified marketing strategies and supply alignment.

Signatories of the accord have committed to contribute approximately 1% of annual rough-diamond sales revenues to a marketing fund, aimed at sustaining natural diamond demand amid the growing competition from lab-grown alternatives.

Namibia recently joined this initiative, with Minister Modestus Amutse highlighting the importance of ensuring that the wealth generated from diamonds benefits its citizens.

Conclusion: The Future of Intra-African Mining Collaboration

Intra-African collaborations in mining are set to pave the way for more robust economies across the continent. These partnerships not only bolster technical expertise but also serve as strategic means to unlock the full potential of Africa’s abundant mineral resources. By working together, African nations are not just building capable industries but laying the groundwork for sustainable economic growth and prosperity.

For more information on mining in Africa, visit Africa Center for Energy and Mineral Policy.