Who said it? "Our minerals must serve our people first."
Marit Kitaw, Interim Director of the @AfricanUnion's African Minerals Development Centre (AMDC):
โWith the rise of critical minerals like cobalt, lithium and rare earth metals, the world needs Africa more than ever."
โIf we do not act now, we risk a repeat of history, the export of raw materials and the importation of poverty."
โThe question is, will Africa shape the future, or will it be shaped by it?โ
โFuture-proofing means rewriting the rules, processing minerals on African soil, creating jobs and fueling our industries, securing Africaโs place in the global economy as an industrial powerhouse.โ
โIt means building ecosystems around value additionsโฆ it needs skills development and R&D. It means being innovative in finding the requisite financeโฆ it means digitalisation and empowering the youthโฆ it means people and planet.
"Our minerals must serve our people first.โ
โOur minerals are the solution to the global decarbonisation agenda. This is a call to action, to our investors and partners, Africa is open to business, but on African terms.โ
โIt is time for bold leadership, decisive action, and an Africa that owns its future.โ
ESI Africa reporting live from @MiningIndaba #miningIndaba2025
How can Africa best position itself as a leader in the global green revolution and critical minerals race?
As Editor-in-Chief of Foresight Africa 2025-2030 @BrookingsGlobal, I invite you to explore the compelling insights of @maritkitaw, Interim Director of the African Minerals Development Center (AMDC), in her #ForesightAfrica viewpoint on this critical issue.
She explores Africa's strategic role in the energy transition, highlighting the continentโs vast mineral wealth (holding approximately 30% of the world's largest mineral reserves) and the opportunities to leverage this advantage.
โ Read her full Foresight Africa viewpoint for @BrookingsGlobal: https://t.co/rIYqGH8JZO
โ Download the full Brookings Foresight Africa 2025-2030 report, outlining the top priorities for Africa by 2030, with contributions from top leaders across six chapters: https://t.co/NurtsY7jOe
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https://t.co/teBzANi7WQ
The meeting of senior officials of the AU First Extra-Ordinary Session of the Specialized Technical Committee on @AU_ETTIM held from Dec 11 -12, in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, has endorsed the Draft African Green Minerals Strategy (AGMS). @YouhanesMagok
๐๐๐https://t.co/LmnyxFCffQ
#COP29 : "Beyond Extraction: Developing around Critical Minerals in the Global South"
Dr. @maritkitaw joined policymakers & leaders from ๐ง๐ท๐ฎ๐ณ๐ฟ๐ฆ to discuss:
๐น Building local value chains around critical minerals
๐น Fair access to investments, knowledge & tech for the Global South
๐น Community benefits & strong ESG standards for responsible mineral extraction.
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๐ AEF Executive Director Paul Walton, @SEforALLorg CEO @DamilolaSDG7, @Energy4Europe Energy DG @JorgensenJuul, @AfricanAmdc Interim Director @maritkitaw, and AEF Energy Strategy Co-Chair @KYumkella at the inaugural Africa-Europe High-Level Dialogue on Critical Minerals at #COP29Baku.
๐This pivotal dialogue sets the stage for a transformational 2025 agenda from the G20 to the Financing for Development International Conference (FfD4).
'We have a duty to ensure that our pursuit of economic growth does not come at the expense of our planet or the rights of our people. This is a call to place African interests at the heart of mineral development' - @maritkitaw@AfricanAmdc#GreenMinerals#ForPeopleForPlanet
'The extraction and processing of green minerals must be conducted in ways that protect our ecosystems, safeguard human rights, and prioritize the wellbeing of local communities.' @maritkitaw@AfricanAmdc#GreenMinerals
'It is imperative that we work together to formalize these operations (artisanal mining), promote responsible mining practices, and ensure that local communities benefit equitably from the wealth generated by their natural resources.โ @RoseMwebaza#GreenMinerals
Dr. @maritkitaw, Interim Director of the @AfricanAmdc, participated as a member of the @UN convened panel on Critical Energy Transition Minerals.
The panels reports aim is to "ground the renewables revolution in justice & equity."
Read: https://t.co/BodlZXMv5u
#AMDCMedia
Happening now: The Multi-Stakeholder Workshop on the African Mining Vision #AMV Action Plan & African Minerals Governance Framework #AMGF review
#AMDCMedia#StayTuned
#AMDCMedia In this important AU year of education, it is critical, adds @maritkitaw , that continuous education remains important - as exemplified by master-classes.
๐ ๐ซ๐จ๐ฆ ๐๐ข๐ง๐๐ซ๐๐ฅ๐ฌ ๐ญ๐จ ๐๐ฅ๐๐๐ง ๐๐ง๐๐ซ๐ ๐ฒ: ๐๐ฎ๐ข๐ฅ๐๐ข๐ง๐ ๐๐ง ๐๐ง๐ญ๐๐ ๐ซ๐๐ญ๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐ข๐จ๐ง๐๐ฅ ๐๐๐ฅ๐ฎ๐ ๐๐ก๐๐ข๐ง ๐จ๐ ๐๐ง๐๐ซ๐ ๐ฒ ๐๐ซ๐๐ง๐ฌ๐ข๐ญ๐ข๐จ๐ง ๐๐๐๐ก๐ง๐จ๐ฅ๐จ๐ ๐ข๐๐ฌ
Explore how Africa can leverage sustainable mineral development and regional collaborations to drive innovation, maximise the potential of AfCFTA, and ensure equitable energy access and economic prosperity. Donโt miss this chance to be part of the conversation shaping Africaโs energy future!
Register now at https://t.co/NNIRkXe0cM
#ACEP
#FEC2024
#FutureofEnergy
๐The Coalition of Ministers of Finance for Climate Action
As we keep working, we want to remind our leaders of the Nairobi Declaration.
We can only achieve our climate action goals when we work together, using our positions to transform systems for change.
#LetsChangeEnergy
The Africa Mining Vision emphasizes that value must be added to minerals through industrial linkages across the continent โ a point as relevant today as when it was adopted โ Marit Kitaw @maritkitaw Interim Director of @AfricanAmdc#AMDCMedia@summermkhululi@Sloanjo_86
#AGMS emphasizes practical steps for industrialization, such as acquiring the technology needed for refining minerals like cobalt. It also highlights the importance of upstream linkages, creating jobs not only in mining but also through procurement and local content policies.
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#AMDCMedia: Dr. @maritkitaw responding to the question, โWill the Africa Green Mineral Strategy enable African countries to achieve the Africa Mining Vision?โ, during the #UNCTAD 60th Anniversary pre-event session in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia ๐ช๐น.
See below thread ๐งต
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