The Cost of Natural Resources Conflict on Africa's Development
Loading...
Date
2021
Authors
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Kaduna Journal of Humanities
Abstract
This article analyzes the natural resource-conflict linkage and its implications for Africa's development. Africa is blessed with abundant natural resources, yet with the most violent conflict with debilitating outcomes. Scholars have shown that natural resources are never the sole source of conflict, but the presence of such natural resources, exacerbates the risks of conflict to the extent that Africa's resources are categorised as a curse rather than a blessing. While much scholarly attention has been drawn to the drivers of resource conflicts, the implications of such conflicts for Africa's development are still understudied. Unfortunately, underdevelopment further drives more violent conflict, turning the phenomenon into a vicious cycle. This article, therefore, explores the paradox of abundant natural resources and increasing waves of conflict and ways in which the paradox has negatively impacted Africa's development process. It recommends an articulate understanding of the natural resource conflict-development nexus, which will no doubt help to promptly tackle natural resource crises in Africa