Exploitation of Natural Resources as a Driver of Conflict

Local conflicts in Somalia have many sources, and the extraction of natural resources carries a risk of igniting new conflict or exacerbating old feuds. This chapter considers the case of a mining concession granted by authorities to a Chinese company for the extraction of beryllium at a site in the Awdal region of Somaliland. This has generated strong objections from communities that believe they will be deprived of the economic and employment benefits of the mine; pastoralists who have concerns about the mine's ecological impact; artisan miners who fear they may be put out of work; and local government, which feels it has been cut out of the arrangement. The concession has also catalysed inter-clan conflict about the potential beneficiaries. The case underscores the need for clear thinking about laws and policies relating to resource exploitation, in order to maximize the potential benefits for communities and minimize the likelihood of conflict.