Africa: Beyond Greed or Grievance - Understanding Conflict in Resource-Rich States

Apr 17, 2014 | Christoph Vogel and Joschka Havenith, AllAfrica
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Diamonds and rubber in Sierra Leone, oil in Angola and Sudan, tantalum and gold in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, copper in Zambia - the list of the natural resource wealth the Africa possesses is a long one. However, these riches have not always been a blessing for the continent. The development of African states is often said to be hindered by a 'resource curse' and, not surprisingly, most contemporary instances of armed contest over state power, authority, and legitimacy contain their fair share of a 'natural-resources' story.