The Investing in African Mining Indaba 2026 opened here on Monday in South Africa's legislative capital of Cape Town, highlighting cooperation and partnership-led development across the continent's mining sector.

Speaking at the opening ceremony on Monday morning, South African Minister of Mineral and Petroleum Resources Gwede Mantashe said the conference was taking place amid growing global uncertainty.

"We are witnessing heightened geopolitical tensions, driven largely by the competition of some developed economies seeking greater control over the natural resources of developing nations," he said. "This dynamic represents a serious threat to the sovereignty of resource-endowed countries, the majority of which are here on the African continent."

Against this backdrop, Mantashe said the event's theme was particularly timely.

"It is, therefore, befitting that the theme of this year's Indaba is: 'Stronger together: Progress through partnerships.' To us, this is not merely a slogan - it is a strategic imperative for Africa to act collectively, speak in one voice, and avoid the destructive race to the bottom in our engagement with global powers and investors," he said.

Highlighting Africa's development priorities, Mantashe stressed the need for deeper cooperation across the mining value chain. "Our objective is to deepen collaboration, accelerate responsible exploration and mining, and ensure that Africa captures greater value from its own mineral endowment," he said.

The four-day event, held at the Cape Town International Convention Center, marks the 32nd edition of the African Mining Indaba. It is expected to draw more than 10,500 delegates from Africa and beyond, including over 1,300 global investors, 1,450 corporate executives, and about 1,400 government officials.

In addition to a mining exhibition featuring over 500 companies, the conference agenda includes intergovernmental summits, investment forums, interactive workshops, and technology and innovation hubs. NNA TV+