# Tana report links mineral supply chains and African conflict economies

> Ghanaian President John Mahama presented a Tana Forum report on October 25 that examines how mineral extraction, cross-border trade and resource governance intersect with conflict, especially in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo.

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- Section: Economy
- Country: Ethiopia
- Published: 2026-10-25T11:17:04+00:00
- Updated: 2026-10-25T11:17:04+00:00
- Event / data period: 2026-10-25
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Ghanaian President John Dramani Mahama presented the 2026 State of Peace and Security in Africa report at the Tana Forum in Bahir Dar, Ethiopia, according to Ghana Broadcasting Corporation coverage published October 25. The report, authored by Rhuks T. Ako for the Tana Forum Secretariat, covers January 2025 through June 2026 and examines political economy, resource governance, conflict dynamics and regional trade.

The report treats control over minerals, transport corridors and revenues as part of conflict economics. Its discussion of eastern Democratic Republic of Congo focuses on the coltan- and cobalt-bearing Rubaya mining area, which it says was under M23 control. The authors describe parallel taxation and informal mineral flows as sources of income and leverage, citing prior research and reports. Those are attributed report findings; they are not a new company or government production disclosure.

The analysis also examines the DRC-Zambia battery value-chain partnership, whose stated aim is to process cobalt domestically instead of exporting it as raw material. The report says that goal depends on practical coordination across borders, including transport corridors and customs. It also notes that external governments and commercial actors seeking access to critical minerals can complicate regional approaches, even when the proposed industrial activity is within Africa.

For the report’s authors, formal trade rules could change the incentives around mineral movement. They discuss AfCFTA rules of origin and argue that documented, traceable supply chains for minerals such as cobalt and coltan would be needed to receive preferential continental tariff treatment. Better records could make informal or conflict-linked channels less competitive, while regional value chains could give governments and businesses a shared interest in stable borders and functioning customs.

The report also sets limits on that proposition. It says trade integration alone cannot end armed groups’ control of supply routes or resolve insecurity; enforcement, political cooperation and local governance remain necessary. The analysis frames resource sovereignty not simply as state ownership, but as the ability to negotiate terms, oversee extraction and distribute benefits to host communities. It warns that formal frameworks can remain ineffective when implementation and institutional capacity lag.

In presenting the report, Mahama called for African governments and private operators to retain more value from strategic resources through domestic processing and supply chains that create local jobs. The event coverage and report describe a policy argument and analysis, not a new mine, financing package or binding trade rule announced at the forum. Their focus is how existing mineral production and trade arrangements may shape both regional security and the distribution of economic gains.

## Data

### Tana report findings on resource governance and mineral trade

Qualitative findings in the Tana Forum Secretariat report covering January 2025 to June 2026.

Methodology: This table summarizes policy findings in the Tana Forum report presented by Ghanaian President John Mahama on October 25. The report covers January 2025 to June 2026. Other rows describe the report’s analysis and do not indicate a new project, production result or enacted trade rule.

| Topic | Finding in report |
|---|---|
| Report period | January 2025 to June 2026 |
| DRC-Zambia value chain | Report describes a partnership aimed at domestic cobalt processing |
| AfCFTA mineral trade | Report argues traceable origin records are needed for preferential tariff treatment |

Sources: <https://www.gbcghanaonline.com/general/president-mahama-calls-for-african-control-of-critical-mineral-wealth/2026/>, <https://tanaforum.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/10/SPSA-2025-2026.pdf> · Download data: [JSON](https://newsverum.com/api/v1/articles/ghana-mahama-tana-mineral-resource-sovereignty-report-2026/data/tana-resource-governance-policy-findings?lang=en&format=json) · [CSV](https://newsverum.com/api/v1/articles/ghana-mahama-tana-mineral-resource-sovereignty-report-2026/data/tana-resource-governance-policy-findings?lang=en&format=csv)

## Sources

- [Ghana Broadcasting Corporation](<https://www.gbcghanaonline.com/general/president-mahama-calls-for-african-control-of-critical-mineral-wealth/2026/>) (Source checked: 2026-10-25; Published: 2026-10-25)
- [Tana Forum Secretariat, State of Peace and Security Report 2025/2026](<https://tanaforum.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/10/SPSA-2025-2026.pdf>) (Source checked: 2026-10-25)

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