By Awyetu Asabe Hope
António Guterres has urged African countries to become the primary beneficiaries of the continent’s vast critical mineral resources, declaring that the era of exploitation and unequal value chains must end.
In a post on X on Monday, the UN chief called for fair and sustainable industrial policies to ensure African nations gain full economic value from minerals such as lithium, cobalt and rare earth elements — key components in clean energy technologies and electric vehicles.
“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
The people of Africa must benefit from the resources of Africa.
Africa holds a significant share of global critical minerals but has long argued that it gains limited benefits due to export systems focused on raw extraction rather than local processing and manufacturing.
Guterres has repeatedly raised the issue at engagements with the African Union, urging reforms that support industrialisation and help mineral-rich nations move up the value chain.
