Mahama links Africa’s conflicts to struggle over natural resources

President John Mahama argues that Africa's conflicts are driven by the struggle for control over the continent's valuable natural resources. Speaking at the 12th Tana High-Level Forum on Peace in Africa in Bahir Dar, Ethiopia, Mahama warned that powerful interests profit from keeping the continent unstable. He emphasized that Africa cannot remain a passive pawn in the hands of foreign powers; the continent must take control of its resources and shape its own security priorities.

Mahama highlights that African minerals are crucial to the global green energy transition and digital economy, giving Africa greater bargaining power. However, he noted that communities rich in these resources often suffer the consequences of exploitation without reaping the benefits. He stressed that sovereignty extends beyond political independence and international institution membership. Real sovereignty means having the ability to govern strategic assets, negotiate fair terms, and ensure wealth reaches the people.

Mahama urged African leaders to focus on the political and economic aspects of conflicts rather than just weapons and military operations. He pointed out that the real issue lies in the political economy, where it is essential to determine who controls the resources, who profits from their extraction, and whose interests are served by prolonged instability.

He used Sudan, the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Somalia, and Mozambique as examples of how resource competition, poor governance, and economic marginalization contribute to insecurity.

In Sudan, Mahama explained that the conflict was not only about political power but also around gold extraction sites. In the DRC's eastern region, he linked the resurgence of the M23 group to the competition for coltan and cobalt, minerals needed for the green energy transition. He also attributed the ongoing presence of Al-Shabaab in Somalia to governance failures that have created opportunities for the group to exploit.

In Mozambique's Cabo Delgado region, Mahama argued that the gas wealth has not translated into benefits for local people, leading to further marginalization. "These are not separate, random brushfires," he said. "They are symptoms of a single, continent-wide firestorm."