Uncover the paradox of wealth and poverty in mineral-rich African nations. From pre-colonial times to today, explore the resource curse, colonial impact, and post-colonial booms. Discuss the role of the African state in mineral governance, illegal mining, and hear insights from Dr. Ben Radley, a political economist specializing in the DRC. Join us for a concise exploration of the complex dynamics shaping mining in Africa.

Chapters:

(00:00:00) Introduction

(00:03:35) What is the resource curse? Does it exist ?

(00:08:25) Were Africans mining before colonialism ?

(00:11:35) Colonial mineral extraction in Africa - example Belgian Congo

(00:17:15) Mining after independence (1960s), nationalisation and the lost glory days

(00:20:25) A copper version of OPEC ? CIPEC?

(00:22:55) Blaming the African state

(00:28:33) Liberalise and privatise

(00:30:40) The vilification of illegal miners (artisanal miners)

(00:36:27) Green tech & Leveraging the 'New Scramble for Africa'

(00:45:41) From Congolese mines to the Apple store: can Africa influence the supply chain?

(00:54:27) What is life like in Congolese mining communities ?

(01:01:18) How can we get it right ? Are they any success stories?