ABSTRACT
The risks of conflict associated with extractive industries in Africa need to be factored in to policymaking in a more rigorous and informed manner. More-accurate, disaggregated data is needed to evaluate the link between extractive activities and incidents of conflict at sub-national, national, and transnational levels.
To understand the varied types of resource conflict across Africa, it is necessary to grasp how political settlements shape the extractive industries (and vice versa). Politics plays a role in how resource conflict is perceived, addressed, and ultimately either resolved or made worse by regulation and policy.
Case studies of three countries in east Africa demonstrate the broad spectrum of conflict risks related to mineral and energy resources exploration and production that exists in the continent.
Multi-stakeholder mechanisms for more-inclusive governance of natural resources can be used throughout the natural resource governance value chain to address the conflict risks at every level.
