The recent decision by the Democratic Republic of Congo to immediately ban exports of copper and cobalt concentrates signed off by H.E Louis Kabamba Watum, Minister of Mines of the DRC and Vice Chairperson of the Africa Minerals Strategy Group Ministerial Steering Committee, sends an unmistakable shock-wave through global commodity markets.
With London Metal Exchange benchmark copper prices surging in response, Kinshasa’s aggressive push to force domestic processing highlights a continent-wide awakening: African nations are no longer willing to serve merely as raw quarry for the global energy transition.
Yet, sovereign export bans and fragmented national policies, standing alone, risk creating friction without guaranteed economic transformation. To capture true multi-lateral value, Africa requires structural continental coordination. This urgent reality forms the backdrop for the upcoming Third Africa Minerals Strategy Group (AMSG) High-Level Round-table on Critical Minerals Development, taking place on September 21, 2026, on the sidelines of the 81st United Nations General Assembly in New York.
Chaired by H.E. Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and Chairperson of the AMSG General Assembly, the Roundtable will be convened alongside H.E. Dr. Oladele Henry Alake, Honourable Minister of Solid Minerals Development of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and Chairperson of the AMSG Ministerial Steering Committee, and H.E. Moses Micheal Engadu, Secretary-General of the Africa Minerals Strategy Group (AMSG).
The New York gathering will move beyond dialogue towards implementation, building on the AMSG Mutual Assured Development (MADE) Framework, adopted and launched during AFNIS 2026. The Roundtable will culminate in the adoption and signing of the Continental Integration and Economic Assurance Declaration (CIEAD), translating the principles of MADE into a framework for deeper continental cooperation, regional mineral value chains and Africa-led economic transformation.
AMSG was established in January 2024 precisely to answer this structural challenge. As an intergovernmental specialized agency, AMSG provides the unified political and technical platform for African mining nations to harmonize policies, secure geological data sovereignty, and mandate local value addition.
Rather than isolated restrictions, the AMSG High-Level Roundtable offers a collaborative architecture. Through its three core pillars: Development Assurance (establishing shared regional processing hubs and strategic corridors), Policy Assurance (standardizing regulatory frameworks and digital traceability), and Financial Assurance (anchoring dedicated mechanisms like the CIEAD Finance Window). AMSG is aligning sovereign goals with institutional capital.
As global markets react to shifting supply dynamics out of Central Africa, the message from New York this September will be definitive: Africa’s critical minerals will build Africa’s industrial future. Through collective bargaining, integrated corridors, and strategic partnerships, the continent is transforming from a resource base into an industrial powerhouse.
For inquiries or accreditation for the 3rd AMSG High-Level Roundtable during UNGA 81, contact events@c-imm.com.