United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres has called for Africa’s mineral resources to primarily benefit the continent itself, warning against exploitation by foreign powers.
In a post on X on Monday, Guterres stressed the importance of building sustainable value chains for the extraction and processing of Africa’s minerals, ensuring that African nations capture the full economic and industrial benefits of their natural wealth. “We must ensure African countries benefit first and fully from their critical minerals through fair, sustainable value chains and manufacturing,” he wrote.
“No more plundering. No more exploitation,” he added. “The people of Africa must benefit from the resources of Africa.”
Guterres’ statements come amid a global rush for African minerals, including lithium, gold, and rare earth metals. Experts say this scramble has contributed to conflicts in countries such as the Democratic Republic of Congo and Nigeria. In Nigeria, President Bola Tinubu has prioritized local value addition over raw material exports as a key part of his administration’s solid minerals policy.
The UN Secretary-General also called on the African Union (AU) to champion multilateral cooperation on the continent and advocated for Africa to gain a permanent seat on the UN Security Council.
“The Security Council must reflect today’s world. This is 2026, not 1946. The absence of permanent African seats is indefensible. Whenever decisions about Africa and the world are on the table, Africa must be at the table”, Guterres said. “
Guterres’ remarks coincided with the conclusion of the 39th AU Summit, where he highlighted three key priorities for deeper continental cooperation: peace, economic development and climate justice.
He urged an immediate end to hostilities in Sudan, renewed dialogue in South Sudan, and full respect for the territorial integrity of the Democratic Republic of Congo. Across the Sahel, Libya, and the Horn of Africa, he emphasized the need for African-led political solutions, backed by sustained international support.
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