Natural Resources Conflict in the Democratic Republic of the Congo: A Question of Governance?
Publisher: Sustainable Development Law & Policy
Author(s): Clementine Burnley
Date: 2011
Topics: Conflict Prevention, Extractive Resources, Governance
Countries: Congo (DRC)
The Democratic Republic of the Congo (“DRC”) is a fragile post-conflict state that is immensely rich in natural resources. Effective management of its mining, oil, and forestry resources is key to its future economic progress. However, the DRC is widely regarded as a textbook forum for natural resource-induced conflicts at both local and national levels. If natural resources are the main cause of conflicts, then improving governance over those resources could reduce the likelihood of conflict. Academic studies on conflict causes could be usefully linked to research on governance to improve the management of natural resources in conflict-prone societies. For instance, studies have revealed that countries with high quality institutions dedicated to the management of valuable natural resources minimize potential problems faced by resource-rich and conflict-prone countries.