Stronger Together: Mining Community Voices at MI27

In 2026, the theme of “Stronger Together: Progress Through Partnerships” placed inclusive dialogue and equitable development at the heart of the conversation. For local communities and indigenous peoples, who are most directly impacted by extractive projects, this is more than just a conference. It’s an opportunity to reclaim agency, influence policy, and demand sustainable, respectful, and mutually beneficial mining practices.

Local communities are those residing in or near areas of mining activity, including rural settlements, farming groups, and urban peripheries whose livelihoods, land rights, and environments are directly affected by mining.

Indigenous peoples are culturally distinct groups with ancestral ties to territories where mining may occur, often governed by customary laws, languages, and traditional leadership structures. In the African context, this includes groups such as the San, Himba, Maasai, and others whose heritage and identity are inextricably linked to the land.