Africa’s Critical Core: renowned General Counsel Forum returns to Cape Town on 11 February 2026

While the highly praised GC Forum 2025 | Extractives explored the convergence of energy and mining, next year’s event in Cape Town on 11 February is about assertion and agency; Africa as a leader in shaping the global energy transition, say Scott Cowan and Wendy Bampton, co-founders of Africa Legal, host of the GC Forums. 

Under the theme “Africa’s Critical Core | Minerals, Markets and Global Collaboration”, the GC Forum 2026 will explore how shifting geopolitics, new investment flows, and evolving legal frameworks are reshaping Africa’s extractives future, and advance the conversation toward Africa’s growing influence in the global energy transition.

Through a range of topical high-level panel discussions, quickfire expert insights sessions, fireside chats, the GC Forum 2026 will examine the balance between sovereignty and global collaboration, the rise of critical minerals and the pivotal role of technology, governance, and legal counsel in driving sustainable growth. 

This year, the dialogue moves beyond integration to influence - positioning Africa not only as a participant, but as a partner and leader in the world’s next growth cycle.

Now in its seventh year, next February’s GC Forum | Extractives will once again take place in Cape Town alongside the Investing in African Mining Indaba conference.

“This has become a cornerstone of our year—an event where legal leaders in the extractives sector come together to talk candidly, share strategies, and shape the future of legal practice in one of Africa’s most vital industries,” says Cowan. “The level of interest in our next GC Forum | Extractives has already been unprecedented, and it speaks to what many of us are feeling: the need for spaces where we can come together, learn from one another, and move forward as a community.”

The most recent GC Forum Extractives saw a full house of leading in-house counsel, thought leaders, executives and private practice lawyers absolutely buzzing during a day full of dynamic discussions, meaningful connections, and new friendships.

Past speakers, attendees, and sponsors have praised the unique opportunity provided by Africa Legal’s GC Forums to bring General Counsel together to address specific concerns and build networks, for mining and energy stakeholders to engage one another, to engage directly with legal counsel embedded in new and mature companies playing a substantial role in Africa’s mining and natural resources sectors, and to empower legal professionals to navigate the complexities of the mining industry and thrive in the ever-evolving mining and extractives sector. 

Africa Legal is delighted to have many returning session sponsors for the upcoming GC Forum | Extractives, and is looking forward to collaborating again with leading experts at Three Crowns, A&O Shearman, Baker McKenzie, Beech Veltman, and Grant Thornton. 

Other sponsors for GC Forum 2026 | Extractives include Hogan Lovells, Lewis Silkin, Tiefenthaler Attorneys Inc, and Gowling WLG (UK) LLP. 

The GC Forum 2026 | Extractives website will be launched soon, in the coming weeks, along with the full agenda and the lineup of expert panelists and speakers. 

Topics under discussion at the 11 February event are likely to include: 

• The Geopolitics of Critical Minerals: Africa at the Crossroads;

• The Digital Resource Race: Technology, Data & Africa’s Competitive Edge;

• Ministerial Spotlight: Africa’s Critical Minerals Leadership;

• Restructuring for Resilience: Navigating Financial Turnaround;

• Law, Localisation & Leadership: Building Resilient Frameworks for Growth;

• From Mine to Market: Building Africa’s Legal Value Chain; and

• From Extraction to Collaboration: Africa’s Place in the Global Transition

The renowned one-day event will close with a Cocktail Reception and networking.

To attend please register here

For more information about the GC Forum Extractives event, including speaker slots, sponsorship and attendance, please contact Scott Cowan on scott@africa-legal.com