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Oil and Natural Gas in Conflict
Africa
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Oil and Natural Gas in Conflict
Articles and Documents
2008 | 2007 | 2006 | 2005 | 2004 | 2003 | 2002 | 2001 | 2000 | 1999
All the Presidents Men: The Devastating Story of Oil and Banking in Angola's Privatised War (March 25, 2002)
This Global Witness report provides an update on the campaign for full transparency within the oil and banking sectors. It continues the investigation, started with A Crude Awakening, into the mechanisms of wholesale state robbery in Angola.
A detailed report by Christian Aid, describing the role of foreign oil companies in escalating and sustaining the civil war in Sudan.
An in depth report by Essential Action and Global Exchange on how multinational corporations involvement in the Niger Delta is leading to environmental destruction, death and impunity.2008
Angola: Blood Oil and Western Hypocrisy (September 5, 2008)
Countries are often selective in criticizing non-democratic regimes, especially when these countries are oil rich or partners in the ‘war on terrorism’. Rich countries often criticize Zimbabwe’s president Robert Mugabe, who governs the oil poor country with an iron fist. However, governments from industrial countries do not condemn the human rights abuses of Angola’s autocratic leader Eduardo dos Santos, allegedly because of the country’s oil wealth. (Guardian)Nigerian ‘Blood Oil’ (August 8, 2008)
At the G8 summit in July 2007, Nigerian president Umaru Yar’Adua suggested that countries should treat stolen oil similar to stolen diamonds. According to Yar’Adua, the trading of “blood oil” causes corruption and violence in the Niger Delta. Militant groups say that international and Nigerian oil companies dominate the oil industry to reap a large profit for themselves. The author recommends creating an ‘oil equivalent’ of the Kimberly Process, which attempts to tackle the illicit diamond trade. (ISN Security Watch)The Niger Delta: The Curse of the Black Gold (August 5, 2008)
Foreign companies’ scramble for "black gold" has left the Niger Delta in ruins. This Independent article argues that Western oil companies like Shell keep oil revenues to themselves instead of investing locally, leaving millions of Nigerians to starve. Militias like the Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta are waging a daily war against the oil companies to gain control of the oil and give it to the Nigerian people. But, their actions have yet to have a positive effect on the lives of the Delta’s poorest people, who now live in a state of constant violence.Congo: Four Priorities for Sustainable Peace in Ituri (May 13, 2008)
In 2003, the government of the Democratic Republic of Congo and opposition militia groups signed a UN-brokered peace deal allowing the Ituri province limited autonomy with increased revenues from the area’s rich natural resources. However, the government has reneged on the deal, by signing a secret concession with transnational corporations to drill for oil near Lake Albert. As a result, militia groups are rearming against government forces and using child soldiers to transport timber resources to neighboring countries. (International Crisis Group)Sudan’s Oil Industry – Facts and Analysis (April 2008)
Oil drives conflict in Sudan, according to Fatal Transactions. The report notes that the Sudanese government undermines a peace-deal signed in 2005 between the North and South of the country by failing to move troops from oil producing areas in the South, and refusing to demarcate a border between the North and South that would evenly distribution oil fields. The author argues that state-owned oil companies from China, Malaysia and India perpetuate the conflict by providing the Sudanese government with military and financial support in exchange for drilling rights.Sudan: The Census Saga Continues (April 15, 2008)
The Sudanese government attempts to manipulate a national census and maintain control of the country’s rich oil reserves, says Inter Press Service. The census is part of a UN backed Comprehensive Peace Agreement leading to the equitable sharing of oil resources between the North and South, based on population distribution. The author notes that by preventing the return of refugees to the South, the government believes it may control a larger percentage of oil revenues.The Chad Conflict, United Nations (MINURCAT) and the European Union (EUFOR) (March 10, 2008)
Unequal distribution of oil revenues as well as a lack of democratic reform by President Idriss Deby leads to armed opposition against the Chadian government says Real Instituto Elcano. In response to this opposition, multinational oil corporations Chevron and Petronas provide the Chadian government with funding to buy military weapons. The author recommends that rather than a military solution, the UN should persuade Idriss Deby to open power-sharing talks with opposition groups, and share oil resources equally.2007
Nigeria: Ending Unrest in the Niger Delta (December 5, 2007)
Nigeria has been facing security instability and politically-sponsored attacks in the oil-rich Niger Delta region. The rebel group Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND) has complained of the lack of attention from the government. In this report, the International Crisis Group addresses the root causes of the oil-driven conflict and proposes steps to help the region avoid more chaos.Sudan’s President Refuses to Budge Over Oil Region (November 18, 2007)
President Omar Hassan al-Bashir stated that, according to the 1905 British border delimitation, the oil rich Abyei region belongs to Sudan’s northern region of Kordofan. But the Southern People's Revolutionary Movement (SPLM) claims it constitutes part of the south. Even after the end of the civil war, tensions still remain as Sudan’s government, Kartoum, and the rebel movement SPLM dispute the Abyei region. (Reuters)The Course of Oil in the Great Lakes of Africa (October 3, 2007)
European and US companies benefit from the misuse of Congo’s natural resources and support the illegal arms trade. A 2003 UN Security Council Panel “largely documented the nexus of economic exploitation, arms trafficking, and armed conflict, stating that illegal exploitation remains one of the main sources of funding groups involved in perpetuating conflict.” This article states that local conflicts become regionalized when foreign countries intervene. The author is concerned that without an effective and honest government, resource-driven conflicts will continue. (Fahamu - Oxford)Oil War Feared Between Uganda and DR Congo (October 2, 2007)
In spite of the MONUC peacekeeping presence in Congo, the undefined border between Uganda and Congo has created tension, resulting in a lack of trust and conflict between the two countries. To add to the existing tension, Uganda discovered rich oil reserves in the region of Lake Albert, resulting in the deployment of troops from both sides. The two governments ask for international assistance to determine who has the right to explore the oil and to help delimit the lake territory, preventing another war. (Environment News Service)Chad’s Tragedy (September 7, 2007)
Chad’s situation is similar to Darfur. These oil-rich countries both suffer from corrupt politics, rebel insurgencies and intense international interest. Oil production in Chad started in 2003 under a consortium of transnational companies including Exxon, Shell and Chevron, with the support of the World Bank. This partnership was supposed to construct a pipeline to the Atlantic Ocean and invest part of the income in a fund for social and educational purposes. Instead, corruption and external interventions have caused a humanitarian crisis in Chad. (openDemocracy)State Rules: Oil Companies and Armed Conflict in Sudan (July 18, 2007)
Since oil multinationals discovered Sudanese oil in the 1970s, they have perpetuated Khartoum’s repressive policies, including the North-South and Darfur conflicts. This Third World Quarterly article attributes decades of multinational corporation (MNC) policy in Sudan not only to the corporations themselves, but especially to their home governments’. These include home countries and companies such as the EU (Lundin), Canada (Talisman), the United States (Chevron), and more recently China (China National Petroleum Corporation (CNPC)) and India (Oil and Natural Gas Company (ONGC) of India). Similar relationships between home governments, oil multinationals and host governments exacerbate conflict in other oil-rich countries.The Mixed Blessings of Oil Boom for African Countries (May 16, 2007)
Although many African countries such as Nigeria, Angola, Gabon, and Equatorial Guinea enjoyed great revenue increase in the 1990s from the petroleum industry, the oil money benefited the countries’ leaders and not the people who still remain in poverty. This Gulf Times article says that while the responsibility of managing oil resources lies with governments, others should do their part, including foreign oil companies, the World Bank, the International Monetary Fund, the US and other governments by demanding transparency from African governments.Oil in Darfur? Special Ops in Somalia? (February 7, 2007)
This Global Research article discusses the concept of humanitarian intervention and the different actors involved – as well as their associated motivations – in pushing for intervention. In the case of Darfur, the author argues that a complex web including corporations, nongovernmental organizations and Western media outlets are all complicit in pushing governments to act to “save” the victims of the crisis. However, the article maintains that the motivation behind such intervention ultimately comes down to access and control of natural resources.World Bank OK With Blood For Oil (January 5, 2007)
As conflict continues on the border between Chad and Sudan, this TomPaine article investigates the World Bank’s involvement through its finance driven policies. By agreeing to let Chad use its oil revenue for “administration” and “security” as opposed to socio-economic development as previously agreed, the World Bank gives the Chad government free rein to spend oil money on weapons.2006
War in Sudan? Not Where the Oil Wealth Flows (October 24, 2006)
Thanks to oil exports and Asian foreign investments, Khartoum enjoys a new economic prosperity. Yet, the one million square mile country draws much more attention from the conflict currently occurring in Darfur. This New York Times piece points out that western trade embargo on Sudanese exports resulting from Sudan’s human rights record in the 90s lacked effectiveness as Sudan's Asian and Middle Eastern trading partners secure Khartoum with an important source of wealth.Oil Disputes Raise Tension among Southern Sudan Factions (September 26, 2006)
This World Politics Watch article warns that oil and ethnicity clashes may threaten another surge in the Sudanese conflict. “Unequal distribution of oil revenues, bungled oil contracts, and differences in ethnic power sharing” create new grounds for conflict in the already divided country. The government of south Sudan, in particular, accuses Khartoum of not channeling oil revenue to the regional communities and blames foreign companies of exploring illegitimately oil resources, further increasing tensions among Sudanese factions.What Imperialists Don’t Say: Oil Is Behind Struggle in Darfur (April 27, 2006)
Many experts accuse veto-wielding China of blocking Security Council action against the Khartoum government to protect Beijing’s oil investments in Sudan. This article points out that the US, France, and UK also have oil interests in Sudan, especially in Darfur’s untapped oil reserves, which represent a vast amount of potential wealth at a time when the price of crude oil has skyrocketed. The author questions the “imperialists’” motives for pushing to replace the African Union peacekeeping mission in Darfur with 20,000 UN troops. (Workers World)2005
Is Nigeria the Next Persian Gulf? (November 10, 2005)
The US is intensifying its military presence in the Niger Delta in an attempt to grab hold of new oil fields that are not in the “troublesome” Persian Gulf region. According to a Nigerian NGO leader, "there is clearly an increase in US weapons in the hands of the Nigerian army and navy." Many in the Niger Delta worry that increased US military presence will heighten tensions and lead to more violent conflict. (AlterNet)Sudan at the Head of a Global Sweep to Mop up World's Oil Resources (November 9, 2005)
China has won a new ally in its quest for oil: Sudan. Chinese firms are intensively investing in the oil-rich country. This business alliance is expected to bring Sudan more than $1 billion in oil revenues in 2005. But human rights campaigners warn that this Chinese oil bid undermines efforts to hold Khartoum accountable for its terrible rights record in Darfur. (Guardian)Sino-US Energy Competition in Africa (October 7, 2005)
The US and China, the world's first and second largest energy consuming countries respectively, are increasingly competing to secure energy resources in Africa. This Power and Interest News Report maintains that this rivalry could not only exacerbate the already shaky Sino-US relationship, but could also heighten instability in conflict-prone Africa.Burdens of Oil Weigh on Nigerians (October 3, 2005)
Conflicts in oil producing Africa are causing great concern in Washington. Nigeria, which produces 10 percent of the oil consumed in the United States, presents the greatest potential to wreak havoc on global oil markets. According to Aryakwee Nsirimovu, Executive Director of the Institute of Human Rights and Humanitarian Law, tensions are mounting between the oil-rich southeastern tribes, the oil companies, and the Nigerian federal government. “If things blow up, they will be incredibly difficult to control." (Boston Globe)In Africa, Oil Can Bring Problems (September 17, 2005)
“Often, oil money is a driving force in pushing long-standing political rivalries to the boiling point.” In the oil-rich Kalabari region in Nigeria, militias have fought and killed thousands of people since 1995 over the royalties the oil producer Shell gives to local rulers. The case of Nigeria, the world's seventh-biggest oil producer, illustrates how oil can be a curse in Africa. According to a Catholic Relief Services report, “oil industry growth in repressive, corrupt and poor countries too often results in more repression and corruption.” (Associated Press)African Oil: Whose Bonanza? (September 2005)
Can the discovery of oil in southern Chad provide its nearly ten million citizens with a decent future after decades of civil war, injustice, and upheaval? The author of this National Geographic article hopes that the tripod that controls Chad’s oil industry- the oil companies, the government and the World Bank- will honor the principle of using oil revenue to eliminate poverty. But according to Chad’s Oil Minister Youssouf Abassalah, the oil benefits are coming through very slowly. "What reaches the Chadian state is really minimal compared with the people's expectations."Oil Discovery Adds New Twist in Darfur Tragedy (June 15, 2005)
The discovery of “abundant” oil-fields in Darfur suggests that the Sudanese government engages in the ongoing conflict in a self-serving ploy to gain control of the oil-rich land. However, some critics argue more optimistically that the potential oil profits may “speed up peace talks” between the rebel groups and Khartoum. Commentators explain Washington’s serious push for peace in Darfur and the lack of stronger Security Council sanctions by economic interests sparked by the oil finding. (AlertNet)Briton Named as Buyer of Darfur Oil Rights (June 10, 2005)
British millionaire Friedhelm Eronat’s “purchase of oil rights” in Darfur illustrates that “the scramble for Africa” continues: Britain “is serving as a base for questionable transactions” and speculations soar that Mr Eronat may also be acting for China. Meanwhile, human rights activists express outrage that wealthy corporations pay the Sudanese military regime: as a representative of the Darfur rebels indicates, the oil exploration fuels the conflict by financing “the ruling elite.” (Guardian)Oil Giant Admits Nigeria Aid Woes (May 4, 2005)
US oil firm ChevronTexaco has found that its Nigerian aid program has increased ethnic tensions in the Niger Delta region and that its cash aid has indirectly led to violent conflict. Instead of handing out money at village level, the company intends to devise specific projects for locals. Nigerian protesters say ChevronTexaco has failed to bring jobs to the region, and that the company’s aid program has encouraged corruption and conflicts among communities. (BBC)Fight for Oil Wealth Fuels Violence (February 7, 2005)
Human Rights Watch (HRW) urges the oil industry to maintain transparency in its financial assistance to local communities in the Niger Delta, so that funds do not end up in the hands of armed groups fueling violence in the region. In 2003 and 2004, local leaders recruited unemployed youths to wage war in an attempt to seize oil revenues and government funds. In its February 2005 regional report, HRW calls on the Nigerian government to "pursue a comprehensive strategy to tackle theft of oil and stop the flow of small arms into the Niger Delta."2004
Unravelling the Coup Plot (December 9, 2004)
The Equatorial Guinea coup plot raises some uncomfortable questions for the UK and US governments. This article points to US and UK strategic oil interests, saying the two countries may have condoned regime change because they were embarrassed over President Obiang's human rights record or because Obiang sought to renegotiate oil contracts to gain a bigger share for his country. Media have largely focused attention on UK involvement, but this article looks at Washington's possible role in the putsch. (Pambazuka)Unrest Forces Temporary Closure of Canadian Oil Site (December 6, 2004)
Violent clashes in Ndolou, Gabon, Africa's fourth-largest oil producer, between military police and local protesters caused Canadian oil company Panafrican Energy to temporarily shut down operations there. Locals demanded a fair share of oil riches, expressing anger over the vastly unequal division of the country's wealth. Oil companies say although they have tried to meet local demands, at some point the government must take responsibility for the people's needs. (Integrated Regional Information Networks)How Much Did Straw Know and When Did He Know It? (November 28, 2004)
Both British intelligence and the US Pentagon received two separate reports in December 2003 and January 2004 warning of an impending March 2004 coup attempt in Equatorial Guinea. Neither government warned President Teodoro Obiang Ngema of the putsch, possibly violating international law. Equatorial Guinea is Africa's third-largest oil producer, and Alex Yearsley of Global Witness says the intrigue has "all the hallmarks of resource colonialism, with major powers desperate to get a stranglehold of the area's strategic resources." (Observer)Nigeria: Are Human Rights in the Pipeline? (November 9, 2004)
The Amnesty International report “Nigeria: Are Human Rights in the Pipeline?” examines how oil-related transnational corporations (TNCs) and the Nigerian government seriously violate the human rights of individuals and communities through their actions. In addition, the document examines how some TNC corporate social responsibility projects such as schools and roads have fueled severe local conflicts over resources.We Did Know of Africa Coup (November 14, 2004)
The British government knew about the coup plot in Equatorial Guinea at least five weeks before President Obiang's government arrested mercenaries in March 2004 for planning the coup. Zimbabwe's President Robert Mugabe has accused the UK, US and Spain of plotting the coup to gain control of the country's oil wealth. Equatorial Guinea is Africa's third-largest oil producer. (Observer)Fueling a Crisis in Nigeria (October 25, 2004)
Nigeria is set on implementing IMF-endorsed reforms that would eliminate gas subsidies, causing higher gas prices that opponents argue would "benefit marketers and government coffers while devastating most other sectors," including the country's poor. The government has reacted to criticism by silencing opposition instead of operating transparently and observers fear more people will resort to violence as the country's democratic institutions fail them. (YaleGlobal)Rebel Leader – Voice for the Masses, or Skilled Opportunist? (October 18, 2004)
Supporters of rebel leader Dokubu-Asari have hailed him as a "freedom fighter" after he threatened to wage war against the government and multinational oil companies to gain oil wealth for the Niger Delta population. Detractors, however, claim he is nothing but an opportunist armed by the "very government he now opposes." Dokubu-Asari reached a shaky disarmament agreement with Abuja in early October 2004, but some say violence will erupt again as "that is the only language that the Nigerian government understands." (Inter Press Service)Why Africa Keeps Fighting Over Oil (October 1, 2004)
The conflict in the Niger Delta region between local militias, the government, and transnational companies is yet another example of natural resources fueling conflict in Africa. The conflict highlights "widespread theft and mismanagement… corrupt governments, and cynical behavior by Western policymakers and multinationals" that afflict many resource-rich African nations. (Christian Science Monitor)Nigerian Oil Region Insurgents Prepare for Armed Battle (September 28, 2004)
The rebel group Niger Delta People's Volunteer Force has declared it will begin an armed insurgency in the southern Niger Delta for the right to Ijaw self-determination and to gain control of the region's oil riches. The rebels accuse multinational oil companies of providing the government with equipment to aid in bombardment of rebel camps and have advised foreign embassies to withdraw their nationals from the region. The Nigerian government dismisses the rebel groups as gangsters. (Associated Press)Shell Unable to Shake Off Troubled Ogoni Legacy As Dispute Over Pipeline Deepens (September 16, 2004)
Shell shut down its Ogoni operation in Nigeria in 1993 due to protests over pollution and the failure of oil wealth to benefit the local people. Now Shell does not want to do maintenance on pipelines in the region for fear of violence and has stationed the Nigerian mobile police, nicknamed "kill and go," around its facilities. The local community is angered over police brutality and poor clean-up efforts. (This Day)Port Harcourt Gang Warfare Picks Up Pace (September 5, 2004)
Rival gangs are engaged in turf wars over oil theft operations in Nigeria's oil center Port Harcourt. Many fear Port Harcourt will turn out like the Western town of Warri where violence has severely hindered oil operations. One industry analyst notes that the government should address poverty and unemployment issues that are leading to increasing dissatisfaction amongst local groups in order to control the violence. (Integrated Regional Information Networks)US and France Begin a Great Game in Africa (August 11, 2004)
France and the United States have engaged in a growing competition for favors in oil- rich North and West Africa. Both Paris and Washington are supporting African military dictators while seeking access to their natural resources. According to many analysts, “over the next five years a quarter of non-Gulf oil on the world market will come from sub-Saharan Africa.” (Inter Press Service)Oil and Corporate Recklessness in Nigeria’s Niger Delta Region (July 29, 2004)
Oil in the Niger Delta has led to "environmental devastation, economic poverty, and constant conflict" in the region. The government and multinational oil corporations reap all the benefits while minorities in the region face poverty, intertribal warfare and arms proliferation. (Pambazuka News)Oil Driving US Move on Sudan (July 11, 2004)
According to the East African Standard, the United States’ involvement in Darfur is not the result of a “newfound whim of philanthropy in Washington.” Rather, the United States is pursuing a crucial strategic interest in Sudan--access to African oil. A potential pipeline, supplying Chad with “blood oil” from Southern Sudan,” could pass through Darfur itself.Shell Admits Fuelling Corruption (June 11, 2004)
Oil giant Shell admits to helping fuel conflict and corruption in Nigeria by the way company officials “award contracts, gain access to land, and deal with community representatives.” (BBC)Africa: Oil, Al-Qaeda and the US Military (March 30, 2004)
This article argues that the US has used increasing military involvement and cooperation with oil-rich countries across Africa to combat "terrorism" as a pretext to fulfill its desire to explore the continent's oil resources. (Asia Times)Africa's Dangerous Treasure (March 10, 2004)
A lucrative oil and pipeline project in Chad has renewed concerns about the corruption and human rights problems in the country. The authors urge the World Bank, a project partner, to set up a monitoring committee to ensure that the Chadian government uses oil revenues to improve the well-being of its people, and make public all information on any new oil exploration efforts. (Washington Post)2003
Nigeria: the Warri Crisis: Fuelling Violence (December 17, 2003)
According to Human Rights Watch, members of the Nigerian government have unchecked control over natural resources. Violence erupts over claims to government revenue and profits from stolen oil. This report urges justice for culpable individuals and proposes a plan to track the source of crude oil.Angola: Oil - Curse or Cure-All? (December 12, 2003)
Angola has a high national debt after almost 30 years of warfare. Oil exports earn substantial revenue, prompting the government to seek partnership with oil companies for oil-backed loans to pay the debt. But the Open Society Institute urges transparency to ensure that untold billions benefit Angola's impoverished population. (UN Integrated Regional Information Network)The African Oil Boom: Peril or Opportunity for Africa’s Poor People? (November 8, 2003)
For poverty-stricken Sub-Saharan Africa, the current oil boom means great opportunity and great peril at the same time. While oil exploitation will set free enormous financial resources that could help reduce poverty, history shows that in many oil-dependent countries, petrodollars exacerbated poverty, rather than reducing it. (Catholic Relief Services)They Made a Mess of Nigeria... (September 11, 2003)
Shell Oil conducts negotiations with the Tanzanian government to procure a license for deep-sea prospecting. Residents of small islands off the coast of Tanzania share their worries about the potential environmental impact. (Guardian)Blind Eye on Africa: Human Rights, Equatorial Guinea, and Oil (August 16, 2003)
As the US seeks alternatives to Middle Eastern oil, the Bush administration looks to strengthen ties with oil-rich West African nations such as Equatorial Guinea. But John Bolender highlights documented human rights violations in that country. (ZNet)Coup on Tiny African Islands Felt in Texas Oil Offices (July 18, 2003)
The island state of São Tomé and Príncipe exists near an ocean oil reserve off the coast of West Africa. A bloodless coup drove its president into exile in Nigeria, where he castigated mutinous army troops for seizing authority over the islands’ most coveted resource. (New York Times)Let's Insist: Africa's Oil Must Benefit Africans (June 3, 2003)
African oil revenue largely benefits corrupt and non-transparent governments. Accountability initiatives such as “Publish What You Pay” can enable grassroots organizations to “follow the money trail” and ensure that the revenue funds development. (Houston Chronicle)Chad-Cameroon: Oil and Poverty Reduction Don’t Mix (May/June, 2003)
Numerous examples show that oil exploitation in Africa has not led to development. The Bretton Woods Project explains why the petroleum project between Chad and Cameroon will not follow the World Bank's optimistic predictions.Navy, Shell Beef Up Security (April 29, 2003)
After a threat by armed militants to destroy a major offshore storage site in Nigeria, Shell has warned of "unimaginable carnage" if the attack goes ahead. The country, whose 120 million people live mainly in poverty, relies on oil exports for more than 96 percent of export revenue. (Vanguard)Shell Oil Accused of Harming Communities (April 22, 2003)
The oil giant Shell is failing to protect communities near its installations in several countries. "The fallout from Shell oil refineries and depots is causing a high incidence of cancer, asthma and skin conditions," says Friends of the Earth. (Inter Press Service)Oil: Blessing Or a Curse? (April 7, 2003)
Angola, Sudan, Nigeria, the Democratic Republic of Congo and most countries with oil or mineral deposits are embroiled in civil wars. Since only a section of politicians benefit from such lucrative ventures, the people of Uganda will continue to consider the existence of oil as a curse. (Daily Nation)Escravos Crude Pipeline Blown Up (April 7, 2003)
Just as Shell and Chevron were preparing to restart production in Nigeria, youths suspected to be from Ijaw communities damaged an oil pipeline with explosives. Ijaw communities had warned they would not allow production to continue until the companies had satisfied their demands. (This Day)Violence Cripples Nigeria's Oil Output (April 1, 2003)
The Ijaw community, the largest ethnic group in the oil-rich delta, is threatening to resume violence. The group demands changes to policies that favor rival Itsekiris who get an unfair share of government money and oil revenues. (Guardian)Ethnic Militants Threaten to Blow Up Oil Facilities (March 25, 2003)
Nigeria's military has attacked and fired indiscriminately on residents in three villages, killing 10 people and injuring 16. Niger Delta youths, angered by years of environmental damage and poverty in oil regions, threatened to blow up 11 oil pumping stations belonging to Royal/Dutch Shell, ChevronTexaco and TotalFinaElf. (Allafrica)With War, Africa Oil Beckons (March 21, 2003)
As the bombs drop on Iraq, US President Bush is quietly courting Cameroon and Chad, both known for pervasive corruption and human rights violations, to secure support for US oil exploitation. Exxon-Mobil and ChevronTexaco have nearly completed an oil pipeline across the two countries, ignoring protests from environmental, human rights, and development advocates. (Los Angeles Times)Shell Ordered to Pay Compensation for Environmental, Economic Damage (March 12, 2003)
The Nigerian House of Representatives ordered Shell to pay US$1.5 billion to Ijaw Aborigines of Bayelsa State as compensation for the untold hardship and environmental devastation it has brought the Ijaws community since 1956. (Vanguard)Oil Exploration Off Sahara Stirs Debate on Ethical Investments (February 17, 2003)
The Norwegian oil company TGS-Nopec is involved in oil exploration in Western Sahara, a territory illegally occupied by Morocco. Main shareholders consider the investment "unethical" and have started to divest from the company. (Afrol)Govt Doubts Legality of Norwegian Exploration in Western Sahara (February 13, 2003)
The Norwegian Foreign Minister has voiced sharp criticism against the national company TGS-Nopec. Consistent with UN legal opinion, he maintains that oil exploration in the illegally occupied territory of Western Sahara should be avoided. (Afrol)Sudan's Oilfields Burn Again (February 10, 2003)
The Sudan government's recent offensive in the Western Upper Nile oilfields jeopardizes the peace in the region. Khartoum's long-time strategy of depopulating oil-rich areas includes the abduction of women and children, gang rapes, burning of villages and other atrocities. (International Crisis Group)Swiss Aid Group Keeps Watchful Eye on Chad Pipeline (February 4, 2003)
Africa's biggest development project, a $3.5 billion pipeline, is already having a negative impact on ordinary people. Human rights groups say the project is damaging water supplies and depriving farmers of their land. (NZZ)Africa Activists Denounce Bush's "Malign Neglect" (January 29, 2003)
The US is increasing its military presence in African oil-producing nations, but ignoring African people who need economic support, health and education. 20 million Africans have already died of HIV, a scourge "far more deadly than terrorist or the alleged existence of Iraqi weapons," says Foreign Policy In Focus.Groups Say US Plan Erodes Africa's Sovereignty (January 28, 2003)
US multinational companies seek to "control Africa’s precious resources, such as oil, gold, diamonds and other minerals and metals", says a coalition of African groups that protest the negotiation of a trade agreement between the US and 38 African nations. (New California Media)Does US Bank Harbour Equatorial Guinea’s Oil Millions in Secret Accounts? (January 21, 2003)
Major US and French oil companies refuse to reveal any information about their payments to the government of Equatorial Guinea. Global Witness accuses such companies of complicity in depriving ordinary citizens of the benefits from oil revenues. (Globalwitness)Oil Boom Enriches African Ruler (January 20, 2003)
Even though Equatorial Guinea's oil fields generate hundreds of millions of dollars, most of its population lives on about a dollar a day. In the last two years, a Washington DC secret bank account received from $300 to $500 million from Equatorial Guinea's oil revenues. (Angeles Times)US Quest for Oil in Africa Worries Analysts, Activists (January 13, 2003)
After closing its embassy in Equatorial Guinea for human rights concerns, the US will reopen it because of oil discoveries. Anxious to avoid dependence on Middle East oil, the US closes its eyes to the most corrupt African regimes. "We're not running a church. We're running a great nation," said an US official. (Angeles Times)Big Oil and James Baker Target the Western Sahara (January 9, 2003)
In tandem with important oil discoveries in West Sahara, the US has taken steps to legitimize Morocco's illegal occupation of the African country, in violation of international law and UN resolutions. Furthermore, by declaring the Polisario Front a terrorist organization, the Bush administration will pave the way for US oil interests. (All Africa)The New Gulf Oil States (January 8, 2003)
Pretending to be discrete in its ambitions, the US increasingly intervenes in oil-producing countries in Africa. Following the mistakes made in the Persian Gulf, oil exploitation is used in the detriment of the population. (Le Monde Diplomatique)2002
As Oil Riches Flow, Poor Village Cries Out (December 22, 2002)
ChevronTexaco's giant terminal in Nigeria is surrounded by tens of thousands of Africans who have grown poorer and angrier. The New York Times questions "how long these two worlds can coexist in such proximity without inflaming violence". The company, which operates in 186 countries, pumps much of its oil in places where people live on "less than $1 a day." (New York Times)Forced Transparency (December 15, 2002)
“Publish What You Pay”, a new initiative backed by George Soros, the World Bank and dozens of aid organizations, attempts to force corporations to declare how much money they give to governments to extract natural resources, particularly oil. If implemented globally, this project would significantly raise accountability and increase pressure on corrupt leaders to invest more in social services. (New York Times)The Lure of African Oil (December 9, 2002)
Unlike troubled Nigeria, Sao Tome's relatively stable domestic situation makes its huge unexploited oil deposits very attractive to the US. The Baltimore Sun advises the Bush administration to guarantee that all residents share of oil wealth instead of only dealing with elites.Fueling War (December 05, 2002)
Oil, diamond and other natural resources too often fund conflicts. Some 5 million people were killed and 15 to 20 million were displaced in resources wars in the 1990s. (Christian Science Monitor)Mineral Wealth Fuels Africa's Most Protracted Wars (November 27, 2002)
Despite UN warnings, Africa's enormous mineral wealth, especially diamonds and oil, continue to fuel diverse conflicts and instability in numerous countries. (Agence France Presse)French Oil Giant Accused of Myanmar Abuses (November 2, 2002)
TotalFinaElf, the French oil company that operates the Myanmar's pipeline with the US oil company Unocal again stands accused of human rights abuses. Asia Times observes that TotalFinaElf's prosecutors have presented "a sad litany of charges of bribery and abuse ranging from Southeast Asia to Africa."Black Gold (October 24, 2002)
While ordinary African people have benefited little from oil, big new oil discoveries off the African west coast excite US oil companies. Oil constitutes the US's only interest in the region. (Economist)Uncle Sam's Crude Solution: Our Expensive, Deadly Role as Global Oil Police (October 23, 2002)
US interests around the world start and end with oil. US policies in the Middle East, Asia, Latin America and Africa revolve around billions of dollars in contracts, corruption and hypocrisy. (Village Voice)The Niger Delta: No Democratic Dividend (October 22, 2002)
Both the Nigerian government and oil companies remain complicit in many human right violations with utter impunity. This Human Right Watch report recommends the creation of a binding code of conduct for multinational oil companies headquartered in the G8 or EU countries. (Human Rights Watch)World Court Rules for Cameroon in Prolonged Oil-Land Border Dispute With Nigeria (October 11, 2002)
The ICJ decided that the oil-rich Bakassi Peninsula belongs to Cameroon. Though both countries agreed to accept the ruling, they also strengthened their military presence on either side of the border. The importance of the ruling comes from the fact the region holds “enough oil to change the mix of supply from West Africa or to shake up global markets,” reports the New York Times.The Militarization of West Africa (August 2, 2002)
A fact-finding mission led by Europeans and US officials to West Africa involves, from the outset, plans for tighter military cooperation. However, the true reason behind such interest is the “energy-hungry” strategic concern of the West on a “world-class oil producer region.” (Stratfor)Corporate Secrecy Oils the Wheels of Poverty (June 20, 2002)
The links between poverty and the exploitation of natural resources have become widespread knowledge. Multinational oil companies working in developing countries refuse to publish what they pay, thus adding to a vicious cycle of corruption which harms the civilian population. (International Herald Tribune)Western Sahara: Numbered Days (June 13, 2002)
The US and France grow impatient to legitimize Morocco’s annexation of Western Sahara through a Security Council resolution, thus securing US and French oil industry interests in Morocco. An Australian oil company remains the Saharawis’ only ally and leverage. (The Economist)Bakassi: 'Yaounde Has the Might, Will for War' (February 21, 2002)
A dispute over the oil-rich Bakassi peninsula threatens to cause a military confrontation between the neighboring countries of Nigeria and Cameroon. Cameroon hopes the territorial dispute can be resolved through impending arbitration at the International Court of Justice. (This Day)UN to Rule on Moroccan Oil Deal in Western Sahara (January 24, 2002)
UN experts are looking into the legality of Moroccan oil exploration licenses off the disputed coast of Western Sahara which produced heavy protests from the nationalist Polisario front in October 2001. According to a US Geological Survey, estimated oil and gas resources off the Saharan coast are substantial. (Afrol News)Sudan and Russia Forging New Ties Around Oil and Arms (January 22, 2002)
Russia signed an oil-for-arms deal with Sudan, in an effort to enhance its influence in the region. The government of Sudan undoubtedly makes the deal in an effort to modernize its army and suppress the separatist movement in the South. (Stratfor)Nigeria's Economy Dominated by Oil (January 16, 2002)
A general strike against rising fuel prices threatens to paralyze the Nigerian economy and undermine stability. Rising fuel prices cause outrage amongst Nigerians due to the widespread perception that the country’s oil wealth has been squandered through corruption. (BBC News)2001
Algeria's Economy: The Vicious Circle of Oil and Violence (October 26, 2001)
The International Crisis Group details how oil wealth has contributed to patronage, corruption, civil conflict, and the decreased capacity of the Algerian government to meet the basic needs of the Algerian people. The military elite perpetuate violence to avoid a settlement that would limit their economic and political power.Shell Sues Nigerian Villages (October 22, 2001)
In an ironic twist of fate, Shell has launched a legal suit against several Nigerian villages for alleged damage perpetrated by vandals. Shell's operations in Nigeria continue to be controversial, as the corporation has in the past been associated with environmental degradation and human rights abuses in the Niger Delta. (BBC)Sudan Government Tops List of Those Causing Agony for Oil (October 13, 2001)
This article from the New York Times offers interviews and personal accounts from the civil war in Sudan. They confirm allegations of the Khartoum government's intentional attacks on civilians, forced relocation policies, and the central role of oil in providing the resources and the motivation for sustaining the war.Sudan Civil War Becoming War Over Oil - UN Report (October 10, 2001)
A new report released by the UN asserts that oil extraction in Sudan is fueling the ongoing civil war, thus confirming the allegations of various human rights and church groups. Despite such evidence, the US has allowed the UN Security Council to lift sanctions on Sudan in an effort to gain the cooperation of Khartoum, where Osama bin Laden allegedly resided from 1991 to 1996. (Reuters)Shell Loses N880bn to Ogoni Crisis (October 9, 2001)
Continued acts of violence against the Shell Petroleum Development Company in the Niger Delta have forced the company to shut down operations in the region. Shell's operations continue to be a point of contention, due to prior allegations of its complicity in human rights abuses under the rule of General Abacha. (Vanguard)Rebels Warn Against 'Blood Oil' (September 6, 2001)
Countries of southern and eastern Africa have continued to buy cheap Sudanese oil. In addition the moral implications of purchasing "blood oil," continued payments to Khartoum will undoubtedly protract the ongoing civil war. (Financial Gazette)Angola's Wealth: Stories of War and Neglect (September 2001)
The executive summary of this policy paper by Oxfam illustrates the dynamics of a vicious cycle of oil production, underdevelopment, and conflict. The paper calls for greater transparency on the part of the Angolan government and increased international involvement, in order to ensure that oil revenues are used for development instead of Angola's "economy of war and neglect."Oil Adds Fuel to Unrest (August 23, 2001)
The World Bank's decision to finance the Chad-Cameroon oil pipeline has elicited criticism and protest. Revenue from the project will likely flow to dictator Idriss Deby, who has spent $4.5 million (U.S.) of oil industry money to buy arms and finance his war against rebel guerillas. (NOW)Link Between War And Oil (August 15, 2001)
The Sudanese People's Liberation Army (SPLA) recently launched an attack on the country's most productive oilfield, reinforcing earlier findings on the linkage between oil extraction and conflict. (IRIN)Would Buying Sudan's Oil Undermine Peace Efforts? (July 16, 2001)
Despite the Sudanese government’s record for using oil revenues to wage war against the Christian minority, foreign companies continue to invest in Sudan’s oil sector. (African Church Information Service)Oil Money Supercharges Sudan's Civil War (June 13, 2001)
Although Western governments criticize Sudan’s abysmal human rights record, North American and European companies continue to invest in Sudan’s oil sector, which has fuelled the nation’s devastating civil war. (International Herald Tribune)The Regulatory Void (May 17, 2001)
Christian Aid implicates various European and Asian oil companies in human rights violations in Sudan. The report calls for the establishment of a Global Regulation Authority (GRA) to ensure the accountability of TNCs, but does not clarify which international body would oversee its operation.What’s Behind Nigeria's Military Shake-up? (May 2, 2001)
Nigerian ethnic and tribal groups wish to profit from the country's lucrative oil trade. Controlling the military means controlling the nation's politics and safeguarding oil facilities, thus Obasanjo's pre-emption of any coup attempts. (Stratfor)Boiling Oil (April 12,2001)
The 1967 civil war in Nigeria is often attributed to the politics of oil, and oil continues to play a destabilizing role in the country’s politics. (Economist)US Changing Course? (March 10, 2001)
The African Perspective paints the situation in DRC in the light of the divergent western interests, counting the US oil lobby leading to the support for Angola.Cornered Rebels May Lash Out in Cabinda (12 February 2001)
Will the Angola government in Luanda accept the separatist claim of Cabinda, an oil-rich and strategic region of Angola? As the rebel movement becomes more and more isolated, violence is expected to escalate. (stratfor.com)2000
Oil Riches, and Risks, in Tiny African Nation (July 23, 2000)
Once thought to have no oil, Equatorial Guinea could now be the next Kuwait of Africa. Who will benefit from this new discovery? A local Guinean thinks it is unlikely that the native population will benefit. In an interview he stated, “it's our oil, but it's you Americans who are eating our oil." (New York Times)Africa Should Mull Oil and Diamond Union to End Conflict: Annan (July 10, 2000)
UN Secretary General suggested creating an "African oil and diamond union" modeling after the European Union. He described the EU as the "world's most successful conflict prevention mechanism." (Agence France Presse)Sudanese Squabble Over Oil Revenues (July 2000)
Rival rebel factions are uniting in an effort to shut down the oil fields in the southern region of Sudan. Southern rebels insist that the $1.2 billion a year generated by the pipeline will be spent by the government to fight rebels instead of contributing to development. (Africa Analysis)Buckee Says Talisman Will Stay In Sudan Despite Offers For Stake (June 20, 2000)
Talisman will remain in Sudan! The head of Talisman Energy Inc., Jim Buckee, refuses to pull out of Sudan despite world-wide criticism.(Calgary Herald)Sudan: The Human Price of Oil (May 2000)
Link to Amnesty International's report detailing the background of the Sudanese conflict and illustrating the human rights violations that accompany the extraction of oil in the Sudan.Spoils Of War (March 15, 2000)
An article from the Nando Times pointing out the difficulty of stopping a conflict, like the one in Angola, that is highly profitable for a number of oil and diamond TNCs.Oil Giants Once Again Accused of Abuses (January 27, 2000)
Oil TNCs found guilty in Nigeria of "working with abusive military and destroying the environment, livelihoods and public health in the oil-rich Delta region." (Interpress Service)1999
A Crude Awakening (December 5, 1999)
A Global Witness report discussing "How Angolan State corruption and the lack of oil company and banking transparency has contributed to Angola's humanitarian and development catastrophe."Sudan: Oil and War (October 9, 1999)
A Canadian company, Talisman Energy, is complicit in empowering an illegal regime in Sudan which terrorizes civilians. The article includes an eight-point indictment of Talisman and calls for their withdrawal from the region.(APIC)The Angolan Civil War Part 1: Oil (October 8, 1999)
Government forces responsible for Angola's civil war get their funding from oil revenues. This issue of Drillbits and Tailings examines the relationship between resource extraction and civil war.Fight for Sudan's Oil is Killing Civilians (October 5, 1999)
Toronto Globe and Mail article about oil companies operating in Sudan - a country where civil war continues to rage.
