African nations vow to streamline minerals trade

African Union (AU) Ministers, on Friday, adopted a declaration of intent to implement the Africa Mining Vision into Action. This was during the end of a five-day second AU ministerial conference on a sustainable future for Africa’s extractive industry held in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. The Africa Mining Vision suggests a number of ways in which the mineral resource development can be implemented on a country-by-country basis. Speaking at the end of the forum, the Ethiopian Minister for Mines, Sinkinesh Ejigu, urged Africa’s development partners, at a roundtable on the implementation of the Mining Vision, to play a key role helping overcome the challenges confronting the mining sector. “In order to implement this vision, we need to create a transparent, equitable exploitation of mineral resources to underpin broad-based sustainable growth and socio-economic development,” she asserted. Ejigu stated that much effort is needed among African countries to turn the mining vision into action and to develop a competitive African mineral industry. The December 16 Addis Ababa Declaration also urges African countries ‘to swiftly reform their policy space to align it to the tenets of the Africa mining vision that integrates the mining sector into broader social and economic developmental processes’. Amadou Cisse, Mali’s Minister of Mines, stressed that Africa Mining Vision action Plan is a continental tool for guiding the prudent, transparent and efficient development and management of Africa’s mineral resources. “We must put into consideration this vision as it encompasses so many areas of development that will contribute to the eradication of poverty and secure intergenerational equity,” he emphasized. Speaking to The Sunday Times, Charles Twayigize, the Mines Registrar at the Rwanda Natural Mineral Resources Authority, stated that the Ministry of Natural Resources will implement the mining vision within the Rwandan context. “Currently, in Rwanda, we are carrying out a survey to find out the mineral reserves in our country as a means of transforming our country’s mining sector. This vision is very vital since it serves as a tool to improve the mining industry,” said Twayigize. The conference brought together mining ministers from several countries, including; Algeria, Congo, Ethiopia, Mali, Mozambique, Namibia and Zambia, as well as other senior officials from more than 29 African countries. Also in attendance were representatives from the regional economic communities, development partners in the mining industry, academics and specialists in the sector. Australia, the World Bank, Canada, Sweden and the European Union expressed commitment to support the continent’s mining vision and action plan. The declaration also calls on the African Union Commission, in collaboration with the Economic Commission for Africa as well as the African Development Bank, to support the implementation of the programme at country level. frank.kanyesigye@newtimes.co.rw