By Our Staff Reporter
BRUSSELS, BELGIUM – Tororo Municipality Member of Parliament Hon. Shyam Tanna has challenged European countries to support Africa’s efforts to add value to its minerals rather than continue relying on the continent as a source of raw materials.
Tanna made the remarks on Wednesday, November 11, 2026, during the Organisation of African, Caribbean and Pacific States (OACPS)–European Union (EU) Joint Parliamentary Assembly held in Brussels, Belgium.
“If Europe aims to process 40% of its strategic raw materials locally by 2030, how do we ensure Africa’s ambition for value addition is not undermined by competing interests? Can Europe’s drive for recycling also create a conflict of interest with Africa’s mineral ambitions?” Tanna asked.
The Tororo Municipality MP focused particularly on the EU Critical Raw Materials Act and its implications for Africa, urging European countries to move beyond general discussions about infrastructure and skills development and address two key concerns.
He questioned how Europe’s target of processing 40% of its strategic raw materials within its borders by 2030 could be aligned with Africa’s ambition to process its own minerals and develop local industries.
He also raised concerns about Europe’s plans to recycle a significant share of its materials locally, questioning whether the strategy could eventually compete with Africa’s raw material exports.
Tanna further called for affordable financing to enable African countries to overcome the high costs that have continued to limit their capacity to process minerals locally.
“Africa must move beyond exporting raw materials. We need fair partnerships, affordable financing and the opportunity to process our own resources, create jobs and build industries,” Tanna stressed.
Tanna is in Brussels as part of Uganda’s parliamentary delegation to the Assembly, which was co-chaired by Uganda’s Deputy Speaker of Parliament, Rt. Hon. Thomas Tayebwa, who also serves as a Co-President of the Assembly.
