Key Developments
On 22 July 2026, HM Government told the UN Security Council that the UK was supporting African partners to strengthen critical minerals governance, with a focus on transparency, accountability and preventing natural resources from fuelling conflict.
Key Statistics
- 1 partnership with the Natural Resource Governance Institute was cited by HM Government for critical minerals governance support.
- 3 international frameworks, the G7, G20 and OECD, were cited by HM Government for cooperation on responsible minerals governance.
- £88 million was the historical extension of the Transforming Energy Access programme announced by HM Government.
Main Body
On 22 July 2026, HM Government told the UN Security Council that the UK was working with African partners to improve governance of critical minerals. The statement linked resource management to peace and stability, and said transparency and accountability were needed so mineral wealth benefited local communities rather than armed or illicit networks.
The UK statement identified cooperation with the Natural Resource Governance Institute, action against illicit gold and finance networks, and engagement through the G7, G20 and OECD as parts of the approach. According to HM Government, the policy aimed to support African partners in building accountable systems for resource management.
The position followed a wider UK development statement on 15 July 2026, when HM Government said it remained committed to the 2030 Agenda and Sustainable Development Goals, and announced an £88 million extension of the Transforming Energy Access programme. That earlier statement framed UK development policy around partnerships, local leadership, energy access and responses to global instability.
The development mattered because critical minerals are central to energy transition supply chains, and HM Government presented governance as a security and development issue. By tying minerals policy to sanctions, institutional support and international standards, the UK placed resource accountability within its broader foreign policy approach to conflict prevention, sustainable development and cooperation with African governments.
