From 9 to 12 February 2026, the Cape Town International Convention Centre (CTICC) hosted the 2026 edition of the Investing in African Mining Indaba, the largest event for mining investment in Africa. Under the theme “Stronger Together: Progress Through Partnerships”, the event expected more than 10,000 delegates, including some 1,450 mining executives, 1,300 investors, 1,400 government representatives and 625 speakers.
A clear message: added value must stay in Africa
Speaking at the ministerial symposium that traditionally opens the conference, the DRC Minister of Mines, Louis Watum Kabamba, presented his country as a reliable partner with world-class resources. He stressed the ambition to integrate the DRC and the continent into global value chains, rather than merely as suppliers of raw materials, as well as the importance of a stable and predictable legal and regulatory framework for investors.
A new corridor to the Atlantic
The minister also discussed the development of a new corridor running from the north-east of the country to the port of Banana, linking the Indian Ocean to the Atlantic Ocean and complementing the Lobito corridor. The project is linked to the Mines de fer de la Grande Orientale (MIFOR) iron ore project, presented in Cape Town as a flagship project for regional integration. Bilateral meetings were held with the Trade and Development Bank (TDB), Standard Bank, the Development Bank of Southern Africa (DBSA) and the Public Investment Corporation (PIC) on the project's financing and governance.
Photo credit: ACP – Congolese Press Agency
Featured image: ACP – Congolese Press Agency
Sources: Radio Okapi via AllAfrica (9 February 2026) • ACP – MIFOR project presented at Mining Indaba
