The Tororo Municipality Member of Parliament (MP), Shyam Tanna has challenged European countries to help African countries add value to their minerals.
Tanna made the call on Wednesday, November 11th, 2026, during the Organisation of African, Caribbean and Pacific States (OACPS) and the European Union (OACPS-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, particularly took interest in the EU Critical Raw Materials Act and its implications for Africa saying the European countries should move beyond talk of infrastructure and skills.
“Europe’s Critical Raw Materials Act targets processing 40% of its strategic minerals within Europe by 2030. Africa wants to add value to its own minerals too. How can both sides align their interests?
Europe also plans to recycle a large share of materials within its borders. In the long term, could this compete with Africa’s raw materials?” Tanna added.
He also called for affordable financing so as African countries can overcome the high costs that have kept them from processing their own minerals.
“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.
Shyam Tanna is in Brussels as part of Uganda’s Parliamentary delegation to the Assembly that was co-chaired by Uganda’s Deputy Speaker of Parliament, Rt. Hon. Thomas Tayebwa who is also a Co-President of the Assembly.
