Minerals Strategic Impact on Regional Stability in Africa

Abstract

Africa is seemingly in perpetual conflict. Seven of the 16 current United Nations peacekeeping operations are taking place in Africa. There are three broad classifications of conflict in Africa: civil conflicts, insurgencies, and wars that began when the African nations received their independence from colonial powers. Some form of financing must be available to sustain a conflict beyond its initial stages. National treasure, loans, foreign assistance, captured enemy assets, or natural resources are just a few financing sources that have in the past extended conflicts beyond their initial stages. Africa is a continent that is rich in natural resources. This paper will open the door to understanding the question of minerals strategic impact on regional stability in Africa; specifically, whether or not minerals (e.g., gold, diamonds, and columbite-tantalite) are funding warlords and their conflicts. This paper will focus on the mineral-rich region of the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (formerly Zaire) and three of its neighboring countries: Rwanda, Uganda, and Burundi.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Mar 30, 2007
Accession Number
ADA469659

Entities

People

  • Lee E. Hansen

Organizations

  • United States Army War College

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Energy and Power Technologies

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Africa
  • Commerce
  • Department Of State
  • Economic Systems
  • Education
  • Environment
  • Environmental Protection
  • Governments
  • International Organizations
  • Mobile Phones
  • National Governments
  • National Security
  • Natural Resources
  • Security
  • United Nations
  • United States
  • War Colleges

Fields of Study

  • Sociology

Readers

  • East Asian Political and Security Studies within the Soviet Union
  • International Relations and Conflict Resolution
  • Military History of the United States in the 20th Century.