Pamoja Critical Minerals Alliance Launches a New Era of People-Centred Resource Governance
Harare, Zimbabwe, 26 February 2026 – Africa’s role in the global energy transition took centre stage in Harare on 26 February 2026, as civil society leaders, community representatives, labour movements, faith groups, and policy advocates gathered for the launch of the Pamoja Critical Minerals Alliance.
The conference culminated in a powerful Declaration where it emerged that Africa must no longer be a passive supplier of raw materials for the world’s green transition. Instead, the continent must assert agency, protect its communities, and ensure that its mineral wealth delivers justice, dignity, and prosperity for its people.
Africa holds vast reserves of minerals, driving the global shift to renewable energy and digital transformation. The continent possesses a significant share of the world’s cobalt, lithium, manganese, graphite, platinum group metals, rare earth elements, copper, and bauxite, materials essential for electric vehicles, solar panels, wind turbines, batteries, and advanced manufacturing.
Yet despite this abundance, Africa largely exports raw ore, capturing minimal value. Industrialisation remains stunted. Poverty, unemployment, and inequality persist. More than 600 million Africans still lack access to electricity.
The Pamoja Declaration describes this paradox as untenable: Africa powers the world, yet millions of its people remain energy poor.
The Alliance warned that the global race for critical minerals risks reproducing old extractive patterns under a new “green” label.
Across the continent, expanded mining operations have led to:
- Forced removals and unplanned resettlement
- Loss of agricultural livelihoods
- Biodiversity destruction and water contamination
- Weakening of labour protections
- Erosion of cultural heritage
…
The Alliance’s message was clear: green extractivism is not justice. A renewable future built on exploitation is no transition at all.
The Pamoja Declaration sets out ten core principles and demands aimed at reshaping Africa’s mineral and energy governance.
