Sometimes the natural resources create the problems.
Consider the problem of
conflict diamonds .
Quote:
Crucial issue in fueling wars
On 1 December 2000, the United Nations General Assembly adopted, unanimously, a resolution on the role of diamonds in fueling conflict, breaking the link between the illicit transaction of rough diamonds and armed conflict, as a contribution to prevention and settlement of conflicts (A/RES/55/56). In taking up this agenda item, the General Assembly recognized that conflict diamonds are a crucial factor in prolonging brutal wars in parts of Africa, and underscored that legitimate diamonds contribute to prosperity and development elsewhere on the continent. In Angola and Sierra Leone, conflict diamonds continue to fund the rebel groups, the National Union for the Total Independence of Angola (UNITA) and the Revolutionary United Front (RUF), both of which are acting in contravention of the international community's objectives of restoring peace in the two countries.
What is a conflict diamond?
Conflict diamonds are diamonds that originate from areas controlled by forces or factions opposed to legitimate and internationally recognized governments, and are used to fund military action in opposition to those governments, or in contravention of the decisions of the Security Council.
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The oil companies have been accused of letting the local governments throw people off their land for drilling and building pipelines.
There are even cases of slave labor being used to build the pipelines.
We get the end results of some of this horror in the way of cheap products.
It might be that we should take a look at how people are profiting from having Africa being a wreckage.
There have been efforts in the past to build strong governments which have been undermined by other countries who saw such efforts as a threat to their profits.