The African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights and its Working Group on Extractive Industries, Environment, and Human Rights Violations in Africa have adopted the Dakar 2026 Continental Forum Declaration on Strengthening Human Rights, Environmental Protection, and Accountability in Africa’s Extractive Sector at the end of a convening in Dakar, Senegal, held from May 5 to 6, 2026
The Forum took place at a time when the world is seeing a rising demand for critical minerals, driven by the shift to clean energy, digital technologies, and global competition. This has placed Africa at the centre of increased mining and extractive activities. While this creates opportunities for economic growth and development, it also raises serious concerns about human rights, environmental protection, and fair sharing of benefits, especially for communities living in mining areas.
It also coincided with the 40th anniversary of the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights, an important agreement that guarantees people’s rights over their natural resources and their right to live in a healthy environment. The Forum reflected on progress made over the past four decades, assess current challenges, and strengthen the use of African Charter standards in addressing governance and human rights issues in the extractive sector.
The Forum brought together governments, African Union bodies, national human rights institutions, civil society groups, affected communities, the private sector, development partners, academics, and legal experts. It provided a space for open discussion on how extractive industries are managed in Africa, with a focus on human rights, environmental protection, and the realities faced by communities affected by mining and related activities.
It also helped deepen understanding of the responsibilities of States and businesses under the African Charter, especially Articles 21 and 24. Participants stressed the need to close the gap between laws and practice by strengthening regulations, improving accountability, and ensuring better implementation of existing African Commission guidelines and decisions.
The Forum reaffirmed key principles of the African Charter and related resolutions, including the right of peoples to control their natural resources, the importance of participation and access to information, and the need to protect civic space. It also highlighted accountability, access to remedies, and non-discrimination as essential for ensuring that extractive activities support development and respect human dignity.
States were reminded of their duty to respect, protect, promote, and fulfil human rights in the extractive sector. This includes improving national laws, ensuring the participation of affected communities, strengthening reporting under the African Charter, and holding companies accountable under clear rules rather than voluntary commitments alone.
Businesses were also reminded of their responsibility to avoid harm, carry out proper human rights and environmental checks, and provide remedies where harm occurs. The Forum stressed that voluntary actions are not enough and called for stronger legal obligations to guide corporate behaviour across all operations and supply chains.
Finally, the Forum agreed on key action points to improve coordination and implementation across Africa. These include developing a common African position on critical minerals, improving monitoring of human rights impacts in the extractive sector, creating model laws and stronger regional instruments, and aligning African Charter principles with broader development frameworks such as Agenda 2063 and the African Continental Free Trade Area.
