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The Government of Sierra Leone, through the Ministry of Mines and Mineral Resources, has launched the National Strategy for Critical Minerals 2026–2031, a comprehensive framework aimed at unlocking the country’s critical mineral potential, attracting responsible investment, promoting green industrialisation, and strengthening mineral governance.
Announced on Thursday, 9 July 2026, the strategy outlines the Government’s roadmap for the responsible development and management of critical minerals over the next five years, ensuring that the country’s mineral wealth contributes to long-term national development.
According to the Ministry, the strategy is anchored in the Constitution of Sierra Leone, the Mines and Minerals Development Act, 2023 (Act No. 16 of 2023), and the Sierra Leone Minerals Policy (2018), which collectively provide the legal and policy framework for the transparent, efficient, and sustainable administration of the nation’s mineral resources.
Minister of Mines and Mineral Resources described the strategy as a major step towards transforming Sierra Leone’s mineral wealth into tangible economic benefits.
“This Strategy gives Sierra Leone a clear pathway to convert its critical mineral endowment into responsible investment, value addition, jobs, transparency and long-term national development,” the Minister stated.
The strategy recognises critical minerals as a strategic component of Sierra Leone’s mineral resources due to their growing importance in economic diversification, green industrialisation, the global energy transition, and national security. It establishes a clear, time-bound framework for identifying, prioritising, and managing these minerals between 2026 and 2031.
The Ministry noted that the strategy consolidates existing government mandates while outlining priority actions, programmes, measurable targets, and institutional responsibilities. It also focuses on promoting responsible mineral exploration, increasing local value addition, strengthening geological data systems, improving licensing transparency, enhancing environmental stewardship, and aligning Sierra Leone’s mining sector with continental initiatives such as the Africa Mining Vision and the African Green Minerals Strategy.
Through the implementation of the strategy, the Government aims to boost investor confidence, reinforce governance across the mining sector, and ensure that the country’s critical mineral resources contribute meaningfully to inclusive economic growth, industrial transformation, and sustainable national development.
