(Juba) – South Sudan’s Minister of Mines, Martin Gama Abucha, will speak at the upcoming African Mining Week (AMW) 2025 in Cape Town, using the platform to promote the country’s mining sector and present new opportunities to global investors. The event will run from 1 to 3 October and brings together public and private sector players across Africa and beyond.
Abucha is expected to participate in the Ministerial Forum, where he will highlight South Sudan’s current mining policies, investment incentives and infrastructure development strategies.
His presentation aims to build confidence among investors and partners by showcasing the government’s efforts to formalise and expand the mining industry. The country’s strategy focuses on attracting international partnerships to build a competitive and sustainable mining value chain.
African Mining Week, held alongside African Energy Week, is one of the most prominent industry events on the continent. It serves as a platform for forging partnerships, signing investment deals, and exploring the full range of mineral opportunities Africa offers.
The minister’s address will provide insight into South Sudan’s ambitions and support the ongoing search for foreign capital to boost development in this vital sector.
Under Abucha’s leadership, the Ministry of Mines has accelerated geological mapping efforts to reduce exploration risks. In April 2025, the Ministry hosted a high level delegation from Qatar, including government officials and mining investors, to discuss investment opportunities in gold refining, seismic mapping, and the extraction of key minerals like lead.
Qatari firms, such as United Gold, have already made significant progress by setting up gold marketing stations in South Sudan. These stations are intended to help regulate and support artisanal miners by bringing them into the formal economy.
In addition to partnerships with Qatar, South Sudan is engaging with several other international players. The country is working with South African firms to benefit from their mining knowledge and technology. It is also collaborating with Russia’s ROSGEO, the U.S.-based REE-Magnesium, and Canada’s CVMR to expand knowledge of South Sudan’s mineral resources. These joint efforts are expected to identify and map promising deposits across the country.
In November 2024, South Sudan’s national oil company, Nilepet, revealed the discovery of critical minerals following a government-backed geological survey. It also announced plans to create a national mining company to help lead and manage future development in the sector.
Abucha’s participation in AMW 2025 is viewed as a timely move to strengthen South Sudan’s ties with international partners. The conference will feature panel discussions and investment showcases designed to connect countries like South Sudan with global financiers, technical experts, and potential collaborators. Through this engagement, South Sudan aims to position itself as a rising player in Africa’s mineral economy.
South Sudan’s mineral sector is seen as a potential driver of economic transformation in a country that continues to recover from years of conflict.
With over 92% of its population living in poverty, according to a June 2025 African Development Bank report, the country is urgently seeking new sources of income and employment.
