The International Mining Congress held in Marrakech in November 2025 did not feel like another industry conference. It felt like a shift in direction. Over the course of two days, African governments, private sector leaders, technical experts and global partners spoke with unusual clarity. Africa is no longer waiting for the world to define the role of its mineral resources. It is building the structures, standards and alliances needed to define that role itself.
From the opening address by H. E. Leila Benali, Morocco’s Minister of Energy Transition and Sustainable Development, it was clear that the Congress was positioned at a historic crossroads. She described the geological reality that minerals form slowly, silently and with precision, while global markets, technology and geopolitics move at the speed of disruption. The world cannot execute energy, digital and industrial transitions without Africa, yet Africa still captures only a fraction of the value generated from its resources. This tension framed every discussion that followed.
Over the last twelve months, Morocco and several African nations have worked together to draft two major continental instruments. The first is the African ESG Framework, which establishes common environmental, social and governance standards designed for African realities rather than imported templates. The second is the OTC Corridor (Origination, Transit, Certification), a system for origin, transit and certification that ensures minerals extracted, processed and transported across the continent are traceable, responsible and fairly valued. At IMC Morocco 2025, these instruments moved from concept to adoption. That alone made this Congress a turning point.
In her remarks, the minister underlined the purpose of the African ESG Framework. It is not a document written to satisfy external expectations. It is a political and technical statement of intent. It reflects what African governments believe responsible mining should look like, how communities should be treated, and how revenue should support long term development. It gives investors a predictable and transparent structure while preserving national sovereignty. Most importantly, it gives African countries a unified reference point to negotiate with global buyers.
The OTC Corridor (Origination, Transit, Certification) adds operational strength to this vision. Tracing minerals across borders has always been one of the continent’s most difficult challenges. Illegal flows weaken national revenue. Fragmented certification systems block African producers from premium markets. The OTC Corridor (Origination, Transit, Certification) introduces common procedures that allow a mineral to be traced from a mine in one country to processing facilities in another and through to export. Several ministers emphasized that this is not a political slogan. It is a practical tool that supports industrialization and regional value chains.
One example offered during the plenary captured the imagination of the room. Imagine iron ore mined in Gabon, processed in Mauritania, transported along the OTC Corridor (Origination, Transit, Certification) and turned into green steel in southern Morocco using renewable energy. The result would be a certified African product with clear origin, full ESG verification and competitive quality. It demonstrated that African cooperation is not theoretical. It can generate real economic transformation.
Speakers from Kenya, Liberia, Mauritania, Gambia and other countries reaffirmed that the continent’s shared challenge is not resource scarcity but value leakage. Africa holds almost a third of the world’s mineral reserves but earns less than ten percent of the revenue generated from them. As one delegate noted, Africa cannot continue exporting raw minerals while importing the finished technologies required for its own development. The Congress sent a message that the era of exporting wealth and importing value must end.
Saudi Arabia, attending as a strategic partner, offered insights drawn from its own mining modernization efforts. The vice minister explained how investment in geological knowledge, regulatory clarity and national operators helped the kingdom secure its supply chains. His argument was straightforward. Africa does not need to copy external models, but it can accelerate progress by adapting lessons from countries that have already transformed their extractive sectors.
Breakout sessions throughout the Congress expanded the conversation beyond policy. The session on women in mining highlighted a dimension often missing from mainstream discussions. Women are present across Africa’s mining ecosystem, from geological mapping to environmental monitoring and community relations. Yet they remain under represented in decision making roles. Participants argued that gender inclusion is not symbolic. It is a requirement for building credible, modern and sustainable industries. Increasing the visibility and leadership of women is part of the structural transformation the Congress aims to achieve.
Another session on artisanal and small scale mining brought a different reality. Millions of Africans rely on small scale operations, often without safety guarantees or legal recognition. Delegates discussed how digital tools, formalization and integration into certified supply chains could raise incomes, improve working conditions and protect miners from exploitation. The linkage with the OTC Corridor (Origination, Transit, Certification) was clear. A continental certification system offers an opportunity to include small producers, not marginalize them.
One of the strongest demonstrations at the Congress was Morocco’s national digital mining cadastre. The platform centralizes geoscientific data, license applications, environmental layers, public information and regulatory workflows into a single transparent interface. It shows investors which lands are available, which are restricted and which titles exist. It uses digital identification, electronic signatures and secure archiving to streamline decisions and reduce administrative delays. Delegates from across the continent described it as a model for the future and a practical example of what modern governance can look like.
The Congress culminated with the reading of the Marrakech Declaration. It formalized the adoption of the African ESG Framework and reaffirmed the shared commitment to responsible, transparent and inclusive mineral governance. The Declaration recognizes national sovereignty while supporting collective alignment. It sets a foundation for cooperation on certification, value creation, environmental protection and continental negotiation power. It marks the beginning of a new chapter where Africa is not reacting to global trends, but shaping them.
The spirit of IMC Morocco 2025 can be summarized simply. Africa is moving with intention. It is organizing its standards, strengthening its institutions and building regional connections. The Congress offered more than speeches. It delivered alignment. It delivered instruments. And it delivered a sense of continental confidence that has often been missing in global resource discussions.
IMC Morocco 2025 will be remembered not only for what was announced, but for what it signaled. Africa is stepping into a future where its minerals are not just extracted, but transformed, valued and leveraged for its own development. The Congress did not end the work. It launched it. And the momentum it created will shape Africa’s contribution to the global transition economy for years to come.