Conflict Minerals: Mineral Resources: Root Cause for Civil Wars across Africa

Sep 30, 2026 | Sujayendra Das
Asian Age
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The relationship between minerals and civil war is complex. It would be misleading to argue that mineral resources alone cause Africa's conflicts. Wars emerge from combinations of political exclusion, weak institutions, poverty, ethnic and regional grievances, competition for state power, foreign intervention, and historical disputes. However, where valuable resources are poorly governed, they can provide powerful incentives and financial means for armed groups and political elites to compete violently for control.