ABSTRACT
The three leading regional organizations, namely the African Union, the African Development Bank and the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA) have adopted a single definition that has been modified to read: “Governance refers to the legal and institutional environment in which various actors in the mineral, oil and gas sector interact” (African Union, 2011). Natural resource governance could be viewed as a means by which governments translate sustainable development principles into tangible and actionable processes and systems of oversight. It is the framework for protecting public interest by ensuring economic and social justice and attracting investment through equitable benefit sharing between the state and investors. Based on both viewpoints, framing the discussion of Africa's natural resources around governance is essential.
