International investors are ramping up their involvement in Africa’s mining sector through joint ventures, acquisitions, and strategic stakes, reflecting a growing global appetite for the continent’s vast mineral wealth. At the same time, African countries and mining operators are leveraging these partnerships to secure capital, accelerate project development, and boost production.
The upcoming African Mining Week (AMW), scheduled for October 2025 in Cape Town, is set to spotlight this surge in mergers and acquisitions (M&As). The event will offer a platform for African projects to showcase investment opportunities while allowing global investors to outline their expansion strategies in the continent’s mining sector.
Recent research by the Economist Intelligence Unit projects a continued rise in foreign investment in Africa’s mining industry in 2025, building on the momentum from 2024.
Key acquisitions include – UK-based Altona Rare Earths acquiring an 85% stake in Botswana’s Sesana Copper-Silver Project (January 2025); Australia’s Patriot Lithium purchasing 90% of Zambia’s Kitumba Copper Large Scale Exploration Licence (December 2024).
Also, UK’s Jubilee Metals securing Zambia’s Project G, an open-pit copper asset, to raise copper output to 25,000 tonnes per year (October 2024).
In South Africa, M&A activity hit $10 billion between June 2023 and June 2024, with 32 deals closed, compared to 24 the previous year, according to PwC. Notable transactions include:
Kenya’s Marula Mining acquiring 51% of South Africa’s Mansera Kruisrivier Cobalt Holding Company (July 2024).
China’s Baowu Steel Group securing stakes in Guinea’s Simandou Project, the world’s largest untapped iron ore deposit (June 2024).
Ganfeng Lithium’s $342.7-million investment in Mali’s Goulamina Lithium Mine through a deal with Australia’s Leo Lithium (May 2024).
UAE-based International Resource Holdings’ $1.1 billion purchase of Zambia’s Mopani Copper Mines (May 2024).
The increase in foreign investments is reshaping Africa’s mining sector, driving operational efficiencies, technological innovation, and economic growth. These deals also provide African nations with job opportunities, infrastructure development, and improved access to global markets.
Additionally, the influx of foreign capital and expertise is enhancing local capabilities, allowing African countries to tap into their natural resources more effectively while addressing challenges like underdeveloped supply chains and limited financing for exploration.
As African nations focus on expanding mineral production to drive economic growth, the M&A boom is expected to intensify. The 2025 African Mining Week (AMW) will play a critical role in shaping the sector by facilitating project showcases, fostering partnerships, and accelerating deal signings.
Held alongside African Energy Week: Invest in African Energy 2025 from 1–3 October in Cape Town, AMW remains a premier platform for exploring mining opportunities across Africa.
