That growing role will be on display at African Mining Week (AMW) 2026, taking place in Cape Town from October 14–16, where chamber executives will highlight the policies, partnerships and investment opportunities driving growth across Africa’s mining sector.

Zimbabwe offers a prime example of this expanding role. The Chamber of Mines of Zimbabwe has become an increasingly influential voice in addressing production constraints, including power shortages and foreign exchange challenges. Its recommendations align with recent government initiatives to expand coal-fired power generation, increase coal production and achieve 10% mining sector growth in 2026. At AMW 2026, CEO Isaac Kwesu will outline investment opportunities emerging as the country implements reforms to strengthen mining competitiveness.

In South Africa, the Minerals Council South Africa continues to advocate for improvements to rail, port and electricity infrastructure while supporting the implementation of the Mineral Resources Development Bill and measures to stimulate exploration. These priorities complement government initiatives such as the Junior Mining Exploration Fund and a broader strategy to mobilize R2 trillion in mining investment over the next five years. CEO Mzila Mthenjane will discuss efforts to revitalize exploration and unlock opportunities across the country’s platinum group metals, manganese and critical minerals sectors.

In Zambia, the Zambia Chamber of Mines has helped shape the Geological and Minerals Development Act of 2025, legislation designed to stimulate mineral exploration as the country works toward increasing annual copper production to three million tons by 2031. Zambia has already reached a key milestone in its nationwide geological mapping program, completing 55% of the survey, while the recent launch of the National Spatial Data Infrastructure Policy and Geoportal is improving investor access to geological data. At AMW 2026, CEO Sokwani Chilembo is expected to showcase investment opportunities as Zambia expands exploration and diversifies beyond copper.

As countries increasingly position mining as a driver of economic diversification, Fousseni Togola, President of the Mali Chamber of Mines, will present opportunities in the country’s gold and lithium sectors, highlighting how Mali’s 2023 Mining Code is supporting investment into emerging minerals.

In Uganda, Humphrey Asiimwe, CEO of the Uganda Chamber of Energy and Minerals, told AMW that the chamber will use the event to promote investment opportunities in gold, graphite and rare earths. The country’s mining sector forms a cornerstone of Uganda’s strategy to increase GDP from $59.3 billion to $500 billion by 2040.

Meanwhile, Amara Kamara, President of the Liberia Chamber of Mines, is expected to highlight reforms aimed at attracting new exploration investment, including plans to establish a national mining company as Liberia targets more than $3 billion in annual mining and energy revenues by 2029.

Regional collaboration will also feature prominently during AMW 2026. Thierry Naweji, Executive Chairman of the SA-DRC Chamber of Commerce, is expected to discuss opportunities to strengthen cooperation between South African and Congolese mining companies as both countries work to build more integrated regional mineral value chains.

With regulatory reforms gathering pace across the continent, AMW 2026 will highlight how chambers of mines are helping translate policy ambitions into investment opportunities, reinforcing their growing role in Africa’s mining development.

Working alongside Minister of Hydrocarbons Stev Simplice Onanga, Kiesse will play a central role in translating the government’s upstream ambitions into execution. His appointment brings together the Ministry’s strategic vision with decades of technical, commercial and institutional experience, strengthening the government’s ability to work closely with operators, investors and the SNPC to accelerate project delivery and unlock new opportunities across the sector.

Kiesse has outlined clear strategic agenda centered on protecting national interests while improving the competitiveness of the Congolese upstream sector. His priorities include strengthening government oversight of exploration and production activities, tightening project monitoring and strengthening the auditing of petroleum development costs submitted by operators. He also pledged to maximize the state’s returns from upstream projects through stronger regulatory oversight. Kiesse emphasized promoting local content by expanding opportunities for Congolese companies and skilled professionals throughout the oil and gas value chain. He also identified the continued development of the SNPC as a priority, with the aim of building a stronger and more competitive national oil company.

These priorities come at a pivotal time for Congo’s upstream sector as the country pursues one of Africa’s most ambitious upstream expansion programs. The government has established a production target of 500,000 barrels per day (bpd) over the coming years, supported by new offshore discoveries, brownfield redevelopment programs, legislative reforms and increased investment in natural gas infrastructure. Achieving this objective will require close collaboration between government institutions and international operators while ensuring projects are delivered efficiently and generate maximum value for the Congolese economy.

With a professional journey that has provided experience across every level of Congo’s upstream sector, Kiesse is well positioned to support these efforts, having built a career that spans engineering, project development, government relations and commercial strategy. He spent more than a decade with TotalEnergies, progressing from Field Operations Engineer to Lead Process Engineer at the company’s Paris headquarters before returning to Congo to lead process studies, manage deepwater development projects and oversee joint ventures and government relations. In these roles, he worked closely with major partners including SNPC, Eni, Chevron and Woodside Energy while supervising production sharing contracts, joint venture negotiations and regulatory engagement.

Kiesse later joined Perenco Congo as a Director of Joint Ventures and Government Relations, where he managed strategic partnerships and negotiations with government authorities before becoming Director of Business development and Institutional Relations at AMMAT Global Resources. Across these positions, he developed extensive experience working with both international operators and national institutions, giving him a comprehensive understanding of the commercial, technical and regulatory dynamics shaping Congo’s petroleum industry.

An electrical engineer trained at the Ecole National Supérieure Polytechnique in Brazzaville, he also holds a Master’s degree in Economics and Management from the Università di Corsica Pasquale Paoli and an MBA From DGC Congo.

His appointment comes as investment activity continues to accelerate across the country. TotalEnergies is advancing a $500–$600 million drilling campaign following the Moho G discovery, while development progresses under the $23 billion Bango Kayo, Holmoni and Cayo agreement. Independent operators, including Perenco, Trident Energy and PetroNor, continue to expand production through new infrastructure and brownfield optimization, supporting the government’s long-term production objectives.

A major step toward strengthening upstream governance, the African Energy Chamber (AEC) welcomes this appointment as a core, strategic milestone in reinforcing the country’s position as one of Africa’s leading oil and gas investment destinations.

“We at the African Energy Chamber are hopeful that Franc Mouzabakani Kiesse’s appointment marks the beginning of an even closer partnership between government and industry,” says NJ Ayuk, Executive Chairman, AEC. “Congo has no shortage of resources or investment opportunities – the priority now is execution. With Minister Onanga setting the strategic direction and experience leaders like Kiesse driving implementation, the country is well-positioned to unlock its next phase of upstream growth.”

The Chamber believes Kiesse’s combination of technical expertise, private sector experience and government relations will strengthen the implementation of Congo’s upstream strategy. By supporting Minister Onanga’s agenda, advancing local content, fostering closer cooperation between government and industry, and maintaining an attractive investment environment, his leadership is expected to play an important role making Congo an even more attractive destination for energy investment.

Bibeault will participate in a panel discussion on Accelerating the Formalization of Artisanal Miners, where industry stakeholders will explore pathways to integrate artisanal and small-scale miners (ASM) into formal mining value chains while improving productivity, environmental standards and community development outcomes.

The discussion aligns with Makor Resources’ approach in Zambia, where the company is supporting ASMntegration through its MineHive program. The initiative provides funding and technical support to ASM operators, strengthening local participation in the copper sector while creating structured pathways into formal supply chains.

Alongside its ASM-focused initiatives, Makor Resources is advancing a district-scale copper exploration strategy across Zambia, supporting the country’s long-term ambition to significantly increase annual copper output. The company is progressing the Muli Copper Project in Central Zambia, while also advancing exploration at the Kangili Copper Project in the Mkushi District.

In early 2026, Makor Resources announced plans to invest up to $3 million by the end of the year to enhance geological understanding across its asset portfolio. The program includes integrated geophysical surveys, remote sensing and systematic sampling campaigns designed to support target definition and resource delineation. These activities form part of a broader investment framework estimated at between $20 million and $30 million over the medium term.

With global copper demand projected to rise significantly in the coming decades, attention is increasingly turning to new supply sources. At AMW 2026, Bibeault is expected to outline how Makor Resources’ Zambia portfolio is positioned to contribute to both national economic development and the broader global energy transition through expanded copper supply.