Eighth African Development Forum (ADF VIII) : Statement by Carlos Lopes UN Under-Secretary-General and Executive Secretary of ECA

Abstract

Statement by Carlos Lopes UN Under-Secretary-General and Executive Secretary of ECA at the Eighth African Development Forum (ADF VIII). There is also a well known link between natural resources exploitation and conflicts which, of course, impacts on development. Poor governance of the natural resources sector has led to conflicts that are fueled by many grievances. They arise from excluded or disenfranchised groups, issues of access, rights, perceptions of unfair distributions of benefits or, indeed, the business of war! Classic cases include diamonds related conflicts in Angola, Sierra Leone and Liberia; the case of gold, diamonds, coltan and other minerals in the Democratic Republic of Congo; and so on.