Interview with Ousmane Mbaye, President, Chamber of Mines, Senegal
- 1. Senegal’s mining sector has evolved considerably over the last decade. In your view, what are the country’s most significant achievements, and what lessons might other African jurisdictions learn from Senegal’s experience?
Senegal has made remarkable progress over the last decade. The first achievement is undoubtedly the consolidation of a relatively stable legal and institutional framework, which has helped to attract significant investment in mining exploration and extraction.
The second achievement lies in the gradual diversification of our mining portfolio. Beyond gold, Senegal is now exploiting strategic resources such as phosphates, zircon, industrial minerals and construction materials, which strengthens the sector’s resilience.
The third achievement concerns the improvement in the sector’s contribution to the national economy. Beyond the figures, the mining sector is now a major driver of economic sovereignty for our country. Accounting for nearly 5 per cent of GDP, over 30 per cent of national exports and nearly 10 per cent of the State’s budget revenue, it makes a significant contribution to growth, regional planning and the development of local communities.
The mining sector now represents several hundred billion CFA francs in cumulative investment, thousands of direct and indirect jobs, as well as a growing contribution to tax revenue, exports and regional development.
Finally, Senegal has managed to maintain an ongoing dialogue between the State, businesses and communities, even though challenges remain. This culture of dialogue is a key factor in the country’s stability and attractiveness.
The main lesson that other African countries could learn from our experience is that a successful mining industry relies above all on the predictability of regulations, the quality of governance and the constant pursuit of a balance between economic attractiveness, national sovereignty and local development.
2. As President of the Chamber of Mines, what are the key priorities currently guiding the industry’s relations with the government and investors?
Our top priority is to preserve and strengthen Senegal’s competitiveness as a leading mining destination in Africa.
To achieve this, we are working with the government on several strategic priorities: regulatory and fiscal stability, the continuous improvement of the business climate, the streamlining of administrative procedures, and the safeguarding of investments.
We also attach particular importance to the development of key infrastructure such as energy, logistics, transport and services, which are essential to the competitiveness of mining projects.
Furthermore, the Chamber of Mines is strongly committed to promoting constructive dialogue between public authorities, businesses and local communities in order to enhance the social acceptability of projects.
Finally, we champion a vision of responsible partnership with investors. They are seeking not only high-quality geological resources, but also a predictable, transparent environment conducive to long-term investment. It is in this spirit that we work every day.
3. Beyond attracting investment in the mining sector, how can Senegal maximise long-term value creation through local content, skills development and industrial growth?
The future of the African mining sector can no longer be measured solely by the volume of investment or the quantities extracted. The real issue is that of value created locally.
Senegal now has a historic opportunity to transform its natural resources into a sustainable driver of economic and industrial development. This requires, first and foremost, an ambitious yet pragmatic local content policy, fostering the emergence of competitive Senegalese companies capable of gradually integrating into mining value chains.
The development of human capital is also a priority. We must invest more in technical training, specialised trades, applied research and innovation so that Senegalese skills play an increasingly prominent role in operations and in high value-added roles.
At the same time, it is essential to develop local processing activities wherever economic conditions permit. The aim is not simply to extract resources, but to create industrial ecosystems that generate skilled jobs, technology and sustainable wealth.
The Chamber of Mines fully supports this vision of a mining industry that creates shared value, is integrated into the national economic fabric and is capable of contributing to Senegal’s industrial emergence.
4. As MOTA 2026 approaches, what message would you like to convey to international stakeholders regarding Senegal’s mining future and the emerging opportunities in West Africa?
The message we wish to convey to the international community is clear: Senegal is open to responsible investment and intends to play a major role in West Africa’s new mining dynamic.
Our country boasts considerable strengths: institutional stability, geological potential that remains largely unexplored, constantly improving infrastructure, a strategic geographical location and a firm commitment to building win-win partnerships.
MOTA 2026 comes at a pivotal moment when West Africa is gradually establishing itself as one of the world’s most promising mining regions. Global demand for strategic minerals, the energy transition and the continent’s population growth are creating exceptional opportunities.
We invite investors, technology providers, financial institutions and development partners to look beyond mineral resources alone. The true potential lies in building regional industrial ecosystems, based on innovation, local content, job creation and sustainability.
Senegal is ready to play its full part in this transformation. Our ambition is simple: to make natural resources not only a source of growth, but also a driving force for industrialisation, shared prosperity and economic sovereignty for future generations.
The era when Africa simply exported its raw resources is gradually coming to an end. The challenge facing our generation is to transform our geological wealth into economic, industrial and human wealth. This is the vision that Senegal is pursuing today, and one that the Chamber of Mines intends to promote alongside all its partners.
