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Africa redefines global mineral dynamics at IMC 2025 in Marrakech
In Marrakech, the 2025 International Mining Congress & Exhibition (IMC) opened with a bold message: Africa is indispensable to the world’s future, and it is taking control of its role in the global mineral economy. The event brought together industry leaders, policymakers, and international delegations to address the continent’s pivotal position in the race for critical minerals.
Morocco’s Minister of Energy Transition and Sustainable Development, Leila Benali, delivered a keynote speech that framed Africa not as a passive resource provider but as a strategic force. She emphasized the continent’s importance to the energy transition and the need for Africa to claim a larger share of the value generated by its mineral wealth.
The global race for critical minerals
Benali underscored the world’s dependence on Africa’s minerals cobalt, manganese, lithium, phosphates, and rare earth elements essential for renewable energy, electric vehicles, and modern industries. She highlighted a stark paradox: while Africa holds vast geological wealth, it captures only a fraction of the economic benefits, leaving many countries vulnerable to market volatility and energy insecurity.
“This is the new global reality,” she stated. “Without Africa’s minerals, there is no energy transition, no modern industry.”
She called for a rethinking of how Africa negotiates and governs its resources, urging the continent to move beyond extraction toward value-added industries and strategic collaboration.
Morocco’s leadership in mining governance
Morocco emerged as a model for mining reform. Benali outlined how the country has modernized its mining sector through digitalization and regulatory reform, including a fully transparent national mining cadaster and amendments to mining laws aligned with global best practices.
The launch of the fa7m.ma platform in Jerada was highlighted as a groundbreaking initiative to formalize small-scale mining and integrate it into the modern economy. These efforts have positioned Morocco as one of Africa’s most attractive mining jurisdictions and a leader in sustainable development.
Mohamed Cherrat, president of the Moroccan Federation of Mineral Industry (FDIM), credited King Mohammed VI’s vision for transforming Morocco’s minerals into a cornerstone of national sovereignty and industrial growth. He emphasized the sector’s critical role in bolstering economic resilience amid global energy and geopolitical shifts.
Collaboration and the ‘African genius’
Benali’s speech also championed a unified African approach to mineral governance. She noted that fragmented strategies have historically weakened Africa’s bargaining power, but recent collaboration among African nations signals a shift toward collective intelligence.
She described this movement as the “African genius,” a term she used to celebrate the continent’s capacity to analyze global power dynamics, develop joint strategies, and negotiate from a position of strength.
“Africa is no longer asking for a place at the table,” she declared. “It is defining the table.”
Marrakech as a turning point
IMC 2025, supported by Morocco’s Ministries of Energy Transition, Industry and Commerce, and AMDIE, marked a transformative moment for Africa. Beyond being a platform for technical discussions, the congress became a stage for Africa to assert its strategic ambitions in the global mineral economy.
Morocco’s role as a technological and industrial hub was positioned as a catalyst for this new era, with the message from Marrakech clear: Africa is not waiting for the world to act, it is leading the charge.