Here is the most common key export resources among selected African countries:

• Oil and Gas dominate exports in several countries like Nigeria, Angola, Algeria, and Libya.

• Gold, Copper, and Cobalt are also major resources, especially in Central and Southern Africa.

• Specialty minerals like Platinum, Bauxite, Uranium, and Diamonds are key to certain countries.

Here are country-specific profiles for key African resource-exporting nations, detailing:

• Main natural resources

• Who controls the resources

• Key companies involved

• Who benefits (and who doesn't)

1. Nigeria

• Main Resources: Oil & Gas

• Control: Mostly foreign companies with state oversight via NNPC Ltd (Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited)

• Key Companies: Shell, ExxonMobil, Chevron, TotalEnergies, Eni

• Who Benefits:

  • Winners: Foreign oil majors, Nigerian political elites, middlemen

  • Losers: Local communities in Niger Delta (oil spills, poverty), majority of citizens (corruption, poor infrastructure)

2. DR Congo (Democratic Republic of Congo)

• Main Resources: Cobalt, Copper, Gold, Diamonds, Coltan

• Control: Foreign mining firms, China (infrastructure-for-minerals deals), rebel/militia groups in some areas

• Key Companies: Glencore (Switzerland), China Molybdenum, Gécamines (state-owned), Trafigura

• Who Benefits:

  • Winners: Multinational companies, corrupt elites, Chinese interests

  • Losers: Artisanal miners (child labor), conflict-affected communities, environment

3. South Africa

• Main Resources: Platinum, Gold, Coal, Chrome

• Control: Domestic mining giants and international firms; state role through policy (but weakened by political instability)

• Key Companies: Anglo American, Sibanye-Stillwater, Glencore, Impala Platinum

• Who Benefits:

  • Winners: Mining companies, shareholders, black economic empowerment (BEE) elites

  • Losers: Mining towns (unemployment, pollution), labor unions face suppression

4. Ghana

• Main Resources: Gold, Oil, Cocoa

• Control: Mix of foreign investment and state-owned entities

• Key Companies: Newmont (USA), AngloGold Ashanti, Kosmos Energy, Tullow Oil

• Who Benefits:

  • Winners: Foreign investors, urban elites, some government revenue

  • Losers: Small-scale miners ("galamsey" operators), rivers and land (pollution), rural communities

5. Zambia

• Main Resources: Copper, Cobalt

• Control: Major foreign companies; government recently re-entering via ZCCM-IH (state-owned)

• Key Companies: First Quantum (Canada), Barrick Gold, Glencore (exited), China Nonferrous Mining

• Who Benefits:

  • Winners: Foreign mining firms, some tax revenue

  • Losers: Local workers (frequent layoffs), economy vulnerable to copper price drops

6. Angola

• Main Resources: Oil, Diamonds

• Control: State-dominated (Sonangol for oil, Endiama for diamonds), heavy Chinese involvement

• Key Companies: Chevron, TotalEnergies, Sinopec (China), De Beers (indirectly)

• Who Benefits:

  • Winners: Political elite (former Dos Santos family), Chinese financiers

  • Losers: General population (poverty, inequality), oil-producing regions

7. Guinea

• Main Resources: Bauxite (world’s largest reserves), Gold, Iron Ore

• Control: Largely Chinese-led infrastructure-resource deals

• Key Companies: SMB (Chinese consortium), Rio Tinto (Simandou iron), RUSAL (Russia)

• Who Benefits:

  • Winners: Chinese firms, government elites

  • Losers: Local villages (land grabs, displacement), limited job creation

8. Mozambique

• Main Resources: Natural Gas, Coal, Titanium

• Control: International gas giants with massive LNG projects

• Key Companies: TotalEnergies, ExxonMobil, Eni, Vale (exited coal)

• Who Benefits:

  • Winners: Foreign investors, elites, international lenders

  • Losers: Poor regions (Cabo Delgado), displaced populations, victims of gas-fueled insurgency

9. Namibia

• Main Resources: Uranium, Diamonds, Rare Earths

• Control: State-private joint ventures, increasing Chinese interest

• Key Companies: Rossing Uranium (Chinese-owned), Debmarine (De Beers + govt), Bannerman

• Who Benefits:

  • Winners: State through joint ventures, De Beers

  • Losers: Communities near mines (water issues), long-term environment

10. Botswana

• Main Resources: Diamonds, Copper

• Control: Balanced state-private control (Debswana = De Beers + Govt)

• Key Companies: De Beers, Lucara, Sandfire

• Who Benefits:

  • Winners: Government (transparent diamond revenue use), citizens (public services)

  • Losers: Some mining towns affected by automation/job loss

11. Algeria

• Main Resources: Oil, Gas

• Control: State-owned Sonatrach (dominates upstream/downstream)

• Key Companies: Sonatrach, TotalEnergies, ENI, Repsol

• Who Benefits:

  • Winners: State budget, military-government elite

  • Losers: General youth population (unemployment), dependence on hydrocarbons

12. Libya

• Main Resources: Oil

• Control: National Oil Corporation (NOC); split between factions in east and west

• Key Companies: Eni, Total, Repsol, CNPC, NOC

• Who Benefits:

  • Winners: Rival militias, foreign oil firms

  • Losers: Public (due to conflict, infrastructure collapse)

Let’s expand country-specific resource profiles in the following categories:

East Africa Profiles

1. Ethiopia

• Main Resources: Gold, Tantalum, Potash, Hydropower (GERD)

• Control: State-owned companies, some foreign investors; land leased to Gulf & Indian agribusinesses

• Key Companies: MIDROC Gold (owned by Al Amoudi), Chinese firms in mining/infrastructure<