ADDIS ABABA, 27 APRIL 2026
Former Ethiopian Prime Minister, H.E. Hailemariam Dessalegn Boshe, has called on African countries to fundamentally transform how they utilize their mineral resources, urging the continent to shift from exporting raw materials to building value-adding green industries within Africa.
Speaking at the Regional Forum on “Harnessing Africa’s Critical Minerals for Green Industrialisation” held at the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA) headquarters in Addis Ababa, Hailemariam said the world is undergoing a major economic transformation driven by climate action and the transition toward clean energy systems.
He noted that demand for critical minerals such as cobalt, lithium, copper, manganese, and rare earth elements has surged due to their essential role in batteries, electric vehicles, and renewable energy technologies, placing Africa in a strategic position to benefit from the global green transition.
However, he warned that despite Africa holding a significant share of these resources, many of its citizens remain impoverished due to the continued export of raw minerals without value addition within the continent.
Hailemariam stressed the urgent need for Africa to move up the value chain by establishing mineral refining and processing plants, battery manufacturing facilities, and green steel and aluminium industries, saying this shift would drive job creation, economic growth, and global competitiveness.
He further emphasized that industrialisation cannot succeed without strong infrastructure and reliable energy, calling for increased investment in renewable energy sources such as solar, wind, and geothermal power to sustainably drive industrial clusters across the continent. He also highlighted the importance of modern transport systems, railways, roads, and Special Economic Zones (SEZs) to support industrial development.
On regional cooperation, Hailemariam underscored the importance of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), stating that no single African country can independently build a complete value chain for industries such as electric vehicles or battery production.
He explained that through integration, one country can extract minerals, another can process them, and another can manufacture final products, thereby strengthening Africa’s collective position in the global economy.
However, he raised concerns over governance challenges in the mining sector, including illicit financial flows, weak contract negotiation capacity, and environmental and community impacts, urging African governments to strengthen institutions to ensure transparency, accountability, and public benefit.
To development partners and investors, Hailemariam called for a fair and balanced partnership focused on industrial investment, technology transfer, and ensuring Africa’s meaningful participation in the global green economy value chain.
In conclusion, he said Africa’s future cannot be built on raw mineral exports alone, but must be grounded in industries, skills development, and the sustainable use of its natural resources for the benefit of all its people.
“The time has come for Africa to use its resources to build an industrial economy that guarantees prosperity for current and future generations,” he said.
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