A new series from the New York Times is delving into the role of natural resources in African conflicts. The series begins in Congo, where an estimated 5 million people have died since the mid-90s. Mineral extraction companies and western markets have played indirect roles in these conflicts. Beginning in the mid-90s, armed groups saw natural resources as a means of propelling their efforts. The most notorious character to use resources such as diamonds in building armies and amassing incredible wealth was Charles Taylor, the Liberian President who is currently on trial for war-crimes at the Hague. Conversely, governments have used their untapped natural resources to pay private military companies to put down armed insurrections. Doing so has linked private military companies with mineral extraction companies, a very questionable partnership. This also begs the question of how "noble" armed insurrections, which can oust corrupt governments, can succeed when mercenaries with better technology and fighting skills allow anti-democratic leaders to cling to power. This catch-22, damned if you do damned if you don't climate shows that the wealth of diamonds, oil, gold, silver, etc. are more of a burden than a blessing to many Africans who are trapped in cycles of violence. This is a series that is long overdo but very important.
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