In Africa Who controls the resources—and for whose benefit?...

In Africa Who controls the resources—and for whose benefit? (Continued)

Posted 2025-08-02 03:55:12

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Expanded profiles for East Africa, Francophone countries, or resource-by-resource deep dives (e.g. cobalt, lithium, oil)

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
Who Benefits:
- Winners: Government (infrastructure diplomacy), foreign investors
- Losers: Local farmers (land grabs), pastoralists displaced by dams, transparency is low

2. Kenya

Main Resources: Titanium, Soda Ash, Rare Earths, Oil (Turkana)
Control: Foreign companies (mining); nascent oil sector with state oversight
Key Companies: Base Titanium (Australia), Tullow Oil (UK)
Who Benefits:
- Winners: Export revenue, foreign firms
- Losers: Local communities in Turkana (land conflicts, minimal services)

3. Uganda

Main Resources: Oil, Gold, Coffee, Cobalt
Control: Heavily state-influenced; oil sector still developing
Key Companies: TotalEnergies, CNOOC (China), UNOC (Uganda National Oil Company)
Who Benefits:
- Winners: State elite, foreign oil firms
- Losers: Environmental risks to Lake Albert, human rights issues in pipeline construction

4. Tanzania

Main Resources: Gold, Natural Gas, Graphite, Rare Earths
Control: Mixed; recent shift toward more state control under mining reforms
Key Companies: Barrick Gold, AngloGold, various Australian and Chinese mining companies
Who Benefits:
- Winners: Government (better royalties), international partners
- Losers: Artisanal miners, some local communities

Francophone Africa Profiles

5. Mali

Main Resources: Gold, Cotton
Control: Gold dominated by foreign companies; cotton largely state-organized
Key Companies: Barrick Gold, B2Gold (Canada), AngloGold
Who Benefits:
- Winners: Foreign companies, military elites
- Losers: Rural communities, environment, with increasing insecurity from armed groups

6. Niger

Main Resources: Uranium, Oil
Control: Historically French via Orano; now shifting to Russian/Chinese interest
Key Companies: Orano (France), CNPC (China), Savannah Energy (UK)
Who Benefits:
- Winners: Foreign nations (nuclear fuel), national elite
- Losers: Local people in Arlit region (radiation risks, minimal development)

7. Senegal

Main Resources: Phosphates, Gold, Offshore Oil & Gas
Control: Senegalese state partnerships with foreign investors
Key Companies: BP, Kosmos Energy, Petrosen (national oil company)
Who Benefits:
- Winners: Potential future revenue for state
- Losers: Concerns over contracts, fisheries impact

8. Côte d’Ivoire (Ivory Coast)

Main Resources: Cocoa, Oil, Gold
Control: Government-regulated but highly open to foreign firms
Key Companies: Perseus Mining, Eni, TotalEnergies
Who Benefits:
- Winners: Agro-export economy, multinationals
- Losers: Cocoa farmers (price volatility), mining communities

Resource-Specific Deep Dives-

Cobalt (Key to Electric Vehicles & Batteries)

Primary Source: DR Congo (over 70% of world supply)
Control: Glencore, China Molybdenum, artisanal miners
Concerns: Child labor, toxic waste, informal mining
Geopolitics: US, EU, and China competing to secure supply chains

Lithium (Essential for Green Tech)

Countries: Zimbabwe, Namibia, Mali, DRC
Control: Chinese firms dominate (Sinomine, Zhejiang Huayou, Chengxin Lithium)
Opportunities: African governments pushing for local processing
Challenges: Land displacement, poor oversight, minimal benefit to locals

Oil & Gas

Major Producers: Nigeria, Angola, Libya, Algeria, Egypt, Ghana, Equatorial Guinea
Control: Mix of state-owned firms and global giants (Shell, Total, Eni, ExxonMobil)
Challenges: Corruption, volatility, "Dutch disease" (undermining other sectors)
Future Risks: Global shift to renewables may shrink demand.

Resource Control Profiles: East Africa vs Francophone Africa

Region	Country	Main Resource(s)	Foreign Influence	Key Companies	Who Benefits
East Africa	Ethiopia	Gold, Potash, Tantalum	China, Gulf States	MIDROC, Chinese firms	Elites, foreign investors
	Kenya	Titanium, Oil, Rare Earths	UK, Australia	Tullow Oil, Base Titanium	Foreign firms, elites
	Uganda	Oil, Gold	China, France	TotalEnergies, CNOOC	Government, foreign oil firms
	Tanzania	Gold, Gas, Graphite	Canada, China, Australia	Barrick Gold, AngloGold	State, investors
Francophone Africa	Mali	Gold	Canada, Russia	Barrick, B2Gold	Foreign miners, elites
	Niger	Uranium, Oil	France, China, Russia	Orano, CNPC	Elites, foreign governments
	Senegal	Phosphates, Oil & Gas	UK, USA	BP, Kosmos Energy	Government, international partners
	Ivory Coast	Cocoa, Gold, Oil	France, Canada	Perseus Mining, Total

1. Lithium (Electric Vehicle Boom Mineral)

Country	Major Sites	Foreign Influence	Key Companies	Who Benefits
Zimbabwe	Bikita, Arcadia	China, Australia	Zhejiang Huayou, Prospect Lithium	Chinese firms, local elites
Dem. Rep. Congo	Manono	China	AVZ Minerals, Zijin Mining	Foreign investors, gov. elites
Namibia	Uis, Karibib	Australia, China	Lepidico, Desert Lion	Foreign miners, state royalties
Mali	Bougouni, Goulamina	China, UK	Ganfeng Lithium, Kodal Minerals	Foreign firms, elite class

➡ China dominates lithium investments; locals often get few jobs or environmental protections.

2. Uranium (Nuclear Power & Defense)

Country	Major Sites	Foreign Influence	Key Companies	Who Benefits
Niger	Arlit, Imouraren	France, China, Russia	Orano (France), CNNC	France, government elites
Namibia	Rossing, Husab	China, Canada	China General Nuclear, Rio Tinto	Foreign states, some state revenue
South Africa	Karoo Basin	France, India	Uranium One, Indian firms	Private sector, foreign buyers

➡ France is heavily reliant on Niger’s uranium for its nuclear power — but local communities remain impoverished.

3. Oil & Gas (Top Revenue Resource)

Country	Key Basins/Fields	Foreign Influence	Key Companies	Who Benefits
Nigeria	Niger Delta, Offshore	US, UK, China	Shell, Chevron, Total, NNPC	Gov. elites, foreign firms
Angola	Offshore fields	US, China, EU	Sonangol, Total, Chevron	Elites, foreign investors
Libya	Sirte Basin, Murzuq	Italy, France	ENI, Total, NOC	Political factions, European markets
Mozambique	Rovuma Basin (Gas)	US, France, China	TotalEnergies, ExxonMobil, CNPC	Elites, LNG export buyers
Senegal	Sangomar, GTA Gas	UK, Australia	BP, Kosmos Energy	Gov. + foreign stakeholders

➡ Despite vast oil wealth, countries like Nigeria and Angola still face fuel shortages domestically.

4. Gold (Monetary & Tech Use)

Country	Key Mining Areas	Foreign Influence	Key Companies	Who Benefits
Ghana	Obuasi, Tarkwa	Canada, Australia	AngloGold Ashanti, Newmont	Exporters, elites
South Africa	Witwatersrand Basin	USA, UK	Gold Fields, Harmony Gold	Mining houses, some local revenue
Mali	Sadiola, Loulo	Canada, Russia	Barrick Gold, B2Gold	Foreign firms, local military gov
Burkina Faso	Essakane, Houndé	Canada	IAMGOLD, Endeavour Mining	Foreign firms, unstable benefits

➡ Gold is often smuggled out of countries through informal routes, robbing governments of billions in tax revenue.

Comparison Table: Resource Control vs Benefit

Country	Resource	Who Owns the Land	Who Profits Most
DR Congo	Cobalt, Lithium	State-owned, tribal lands	China (CMOC), Glencore, Congolese elites
Zimbabwe	Lithium	State, Indigenous lands	Chinese firms, political elites
Niger	Uranium	State, Tuareg lands	France (Orano), China
Nigeria	Oil	State, Niger Delta communities	Shell, Chevron, Nigerian elites
Ghana	Gold	State, traditional stools	Newmont, government elites
Angola	Oil	State	TotalEnergies, Chevron, government
Mali	Gold, Lithium	State, ethnic militias	Barrick, Russian groups, military elites
Namibia	Uranium, Lithium	State, local communities	China (CGN), Rio Tinto

Timeline: Who Controlled Africa’s Key Resources (2005–2025)

Year	China Influence	Western Influence	African Control
2005	Low (2/10)	High (10/10)	Minimal (1/10)
2010	Growing (4/10)	Still dominant	Slight increase
2015	Competitive	Declining	Increasing
2020	Surpassing West	Moderate	Growing slowly
2025	High (10/10)	Moderate (5/10)	Still limited

China’s role grew rapidly in the 2010s with Belt and Road deals and mining contracts.
Western dominance (esp. France, UK, US companies) began fading in some zones.
African governments have slowly increased formal control, but actual profit-sharing remains unequal, often favoring foreign and elite groups.

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