While Africa has an abundance of mineral resources, many countries are struggling to reap the full benefits of these resources because they have signed contracts that are disadvantageous due to a lack of expertise. To correct this injustice, the African Legal Support Facility (ALSF), set up in 2010, supports countries in negotiating fair agreements. In 2025, the institution is calling for a stronger commitment from its members to ensure its continued existence.
Africa, although rich in mineral resources, benefits only marginally from their exploitation. In the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), for example, undervalued mining contracts resulted in a loss of $1.6 billion between 2010 and 2012, more than double the country’s combined health and education budgets. On the sidelines of the 60th Annual Meetings of the African Development Bank (AfDB) Group, the ALSF is also calling for greater commitment from member states to strengthen its funding and ensure its sustainability.
“We are a pan-African organisation entirely dedicated to African countries, which are our exclusive beneficiaries. We work for them, we negotiate for them, so it seems normal to us. But above all, at this stage of the ALSF’s existence, we feel it is vital to rally the support of our member countries in financial terms, so that there is a form of ownership by the countries of this instrument which is theirs.”
OLIVIER POGNON, Director of the ALSF – Benin
To address these imbalances, since 2010 the African Legal Support Facility (ALSF) has been providing African governments with legal assistance in negotiating complex contracts, particularly in the natural resources and infrastructure sectors. The institution has supported more than 420 projects in 50 countries, contributing to savings and revenues estimated at 15 billion dollars for African states.
“We have countries with minerals, countries with natural resources that are still unable to become a driving force for development, and most of the time only because of poorly negotiated contracts. And this is what we find in this legal facility that is there for that and African countries should take advantage of it.”
AKERE MUNA, Goodwill ambassador – Cameroon
Despite its successes, the African Legal Support Facility faces challenges, particularly financial ones. Although the Facility has received around $120 million in cumulative contributions, the majority comes from foreign donors, with little participation from African states themselves. The ALSF currently has 62 members, including 53 countries and 9 international organisations. To ensure its sustainability and strengthen the continent’s legal sovereignty, it is crucial that African countries become more involved in funding and supporting this initiative.
