UN Chief: Africa's Minerals Must Benefit Africa First
UN Secretary-General António Guterres declared Africa's mineral resources should benefit the continent through sustainable value chains, rejecting external exploitation. He emphasized fair processing and manufacturing to ensure African countries fully benefit from critical minerals like lithium and gold, currently sought by global powers contributing to violence in Congo and Nigeria. Guterres also called for Africa to secure a permanent UN Security Council seat, stating 'The absence of permanent African seats is indefensible' as the continent's global role grows. His remarks align with Nigeria's policy prioritizing mineral value-addition over raw exports. The UN chief linked these demands to the AU's recent summit priorities of peace, economic action, and climate justice, urging African-led solutions in conflict zones like Sudan and Libya.