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Sierra Leone took a leading role in advocating for African mineral sovereignty at the 5th edition of the Future Minerals Forum (FMF), held at the King Abdulaziz International Conference Center from January 13 to 15, 2026.
Representing the nation, Deputy Minister of Mines and Mineral Resources Umaru Napoleon Koroma joined leaders from over 100 governments and 70 of the world’s largest mining companies at the forum, now widely referred to as the “Davos of Mining.” Since its inception five years ago with participation from just 35 nations, the FMF has grown into a premier platform for Africa, Western and Central Asia, and Latin America.
During the high-level Ministerial Roundtable, Deputy Minister Koroma emphasized that Africa must move away from the traditional model of exporting raw materials.
“Concentrating the production of raw materials in just a few countries is dangerous for global stability,” Koroma said. “We must diversify production by establishing manufacturing and processing facilities in the countries where these materials originate, particularly in Africa.”
A key focus of his address was value addition and beneficiation. Koroma argued that local processing not only generates jobs and economic resilience but also prevents mineral supply chains from being leveraged as “instruments of global dominance” by a small number of nations.
As part of the Africa Mineral Strategy Group, the Deputy Minister also participated in an Africa-focused roundtable with the World Bank and major industry players. Discussions centered on closing infrastructure gaps and responsibly unlocking the continent’s mineral wealth.
Following the conclusion of the three-day forum, Deputy Minister Koroma traveled to the holy city of Mecca to perform Umrah, offering prayers for Sierra Leone’s continued prosperity and peaceful development.
The 2026 FMF ended with several major announcements, including a new framework for infrastructure financing in Africa a direct outcome of advocacy efforts by leaders like Sierra Leone’s Deputy Minister.
