African countries have reached a historic milestone in the governance of their mineral resources by officially adopting the Marrakech Declaration, establishing the African ESG Framework as the new continental standard for a responsible, sustainable, and sovereign mining sector. This adoption took place during the International Mining Congress of Morocco, marking the culmination of nearly two years of coordination, consultation, and Pan-African initiatives, notably led by the Kingdom of Morocco.

Africa Asserts Sovereignty over Its Strategic Resources

The Declaration begins by affirming the shared conviction of African states: the continent holds the minerals essential for global energy and digital transitions, and the value of these resources should primarily benefit African economies and populations. It also points out the limitations of current ESG standards, which are sometimes ill-suited to African realities and insufficient to ensure sustainable financing for mining and processing activities.

This founding text builds on several recent commitments, including the launch in Marrakech in December 2024 of the OTC Corridor – Origination, Transit, and Certification, as well as the Nairobi Call adopted in July 2025 and the Nouakchott Call in September 2025, which had already laid the foundations for a balanced, inclusive African ESG framework aligned with the continent’s priorities.

A Long Process of Continental Consultation

The Declaration acknowledges the conclusions of the side event “African ESG Framework: Our Resources, Our Future”, held on October 1, 2025, in Marrakech as part of the World Power-to-X Summit. It also praises the coordination by Morocco’s Ministry of Energy Transition and Sustainable Development in preparing, disseminating, and consolidating the ESG Framework across African countries.

This framework is therefore not an isolated initiative but the result of collective work and a shared determination to strengthen African sovereignty over mineral resources, promote an inclusive mining sector, and broaden access to sustainable financing for projects across the continent.

Official Adoption and Shared Vision

The Marrakech Declaration formally adopts the African ESG Framework while allowing for future improvements in consultation with signatory countries. It makes the framework available to all African states as a common reference for responsible, transparent, and sustainable mining governance.

The Declaration emphasizes the African nature of this instrument, designed to facilitate access to sustainable financing while fully respecting national sovereignty. It envisions making Africa a global model of mining responsibility, where underground wealth becomes a lever for stability, prosperity, and sovereignty.

Clear Objectives for a Transformative Mining Sector

The Declaration outlines the objectives underpinning the African ESG Framework:

• Define ESG principles reflecting African contexts, priorities, and values;
• Strengthen trust between governments, citizens, and investors;
• Facilitate access to sustainable financing through adapted standards;
• Promote local value creation and mineral processing in Africa;
• Consolidate regional cooperation around unified standards.

It highlights key principles summarized by the acronym AFRICA—Accountability, Fairness, Resilience, Inclusion, Cooperation, and Added Value—as the foundation of the Framework.

Implementation: Structured Governance and a Morocco-Hosted Digital Registry

To ensure effective implementation, the Declaration specifies that a technical secretariat, managed by Morocco’s Ministry of Mines, will coordinate the process. An ESG Committee, composed of representatives from member countries, will meet twice a year to monitor and evolve the framework.

The system also relies on a continental digital platform, serving as an official certification registry and coordination tool. Hosted in Morocco, it will provide states, producers, and responsible buyers with continuous access to information, certifications, and processes under the African ESG Framework.

Towards a New Era of Convergence and Responsible Mining Trade

The Declaration encourages African states to voluntarily adhere to the African ESG Framework and notify the technical secretariat, opening a new phase of cooperation and harmonization with the OTC Corridor. It reaffirms the collective ambition to leverage African mineral resources for sustainable development, transparency, and prosperity for present and future generations.

The founding member countries have approved the Marrakech Declaration, marking a major turning point for Africa’s mining sector and for the governance of the continent’s strategic resources.

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