The Looting Machine: Warlords, Oligarchs, Corporations, Smugglers, and the Theft of Africa's Wealth
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- Author：Tom Burgis
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Summary
The trade in oil， gas， gems， metals and rare earth minerals wreaks havoc in Africa。 During the years when Brazil， India， China and the other “emerging markets” have transformed their economies， Africa’s resource states remained tethered to the bottom of the industrial supply chain。 While Africa accounts for about 30 per cent of the world’s reserves of hydrocarbons and minerals and 14 per cent of the world’s population， its share of global manufacturing stood in 2011 exactly where it stood in 2000: at 1 percent。
In his first book， The Looting Machine， Tom Burgis exposes the truth about the African development miracle: for the resource states， it's a mirage。 The oil， copper， diamonds， gold and coltan deposits attract a global network of traders， bankers， corporate extractors and investors who combine with venal political cabals to loot the states' value。 And the vagaries of resource-dependent economies could pitch Africa’s new middle class back into destitution just as quickly as they climbed out of it。 The ground beneath their feet is as precarious as a Congolese mine shaft; their prosperity could spill away like crude from a busted pipeline。
This catastrophic social disintegration is not merely a continuation of Africa’s past as a colonial victim。 The looting now is accelerating as never before。 As global demand for Africa’s resources rises， a handful of Africans are becoming legitimately rich but the vast majority， like the continent as a whole， is being fleeced。 Outsiders tend to think of Africa as a great drain of philanthropy。 But look more closely at the resource industry and the relationship between Africa and the rest of the world looks rather different。 In 2010， fuel and mineral exports from Africa were worth $333 billion， more than seven times the value of the aid that went in the opposite direction。 But who received the money？ For every Frenchwoman who dies in childbirth， 100 die in Niger alone， the former French colony whose uranium fuels France’s nuclear reactors。 In petro-states like Angola three-quarters of government revenue comes from oil。 The government is not funded by the people， and as result it is not beholden to them。 A score of African countries whose economies depend on resources are rentier states; their people are largely serfs。 The resource curse is not merely some unfortunate economic phenomenon， the product of an intangible force。 What is happening in Africa’s resource states is systematic looting。 Like its victims， its beneficiaries have names。
In his first book， The Looting Machine， Tom Burgis exposes the truth about the African development miracle: for the resource states， it's a mirage。 The oil， copper， diamonds， gold and coltan deposits attract a global network of traders， bankers， corporate extractors and investors who combine with venal political cabals to loot the states' value。 And the vagaries of resource-dependent economies could pitch Africa’s new middle class back into destitution just as quickly as they climbed out of it。 The ground beneath their feet is as precarious as a Congolese mine shaft; their prosperity could spill away like crude from a busted pipeline。
This catastrophic social disintegration is not merely a continuation of Africa’s past as a colonial victim。 The looting now is accelerating as never before。 As global demand for Africa’s resources rises， a handful of Africans are becoming legitimately rich but the vast majority， like the continent as a whole， is being fleeced。 Outsiders tend to think of Africa as a great drain of philanthropy。 But look more closely at the resource industry and the relationship between Africa and the rest of the world looks rather different。 In 2010， fuel and mineral exports from Africa were worth $333 billion， more than seven times the value of the aid that went in the opposite direction。 But who received the money？ For every Frenchwoman who dies in childbirth， 100 die in Niger alone， the former French colony whose uranium fuels France’s nuclear reactors。 In petro-states like Angola three-quarters of government revenue comes from oil。 The government is not funded by the people， and as result it is not beholden to them。 A score of African countries whose economies depend on resources are rentier states; their people are largely serfs。 The resource curse is not merely some unfortunate economic phenomenon， the product of an intangible force。 What is happening in Africa’s resource states is systematic looting。 Like its victims， its beneficiaries have names。
Reviews
Ricardo
，
An amazing book！！ The author exposes the connection between corrupt politicians， natural resources， and multinational corporations。
Tobi Ajiboye
，
Very good book。 Points were clear and with evidence。 It has opened my eyes to what is truly going on in the world。 Although things have changed from when the book was written， many things still remain true。
Bas
，
Based on a series of case studies， that individually contain great journalistic zeal and 'spicy details'， Burgis induces towards a common thread that he refers to as Africa's Looting Machine。 The pattern goes as follows: some but not all African economies are too dependent on mineral exports。 A government's treasury supposedly gets filled by selling licenses to multinationals but instead， the money ends up in the pockets of a corrupt regime。 This regime only benefits the happy few in a shadow st Based on a series of case studies， that individually contain great journalistic zeal and 'spicy details'， Burgis induces towards a common thread that he refers to as Africa's Looting Machine。 The pattern goes as follows: some but not all African economies are too dependent on mineral exports。 A government's treasury supposedly gets filled by selling licenses to multinationals but instead， the money ends up in the pockets of a corrupt regime。 This regime only benefits the happy few in a shadow state structure that runs in parallel to the real economy， where no wealth creation and sustainable growth takes place。 This logic is explained through applying it to what happened e。g。 in the Katanga coltan mines in the DRC under Kabila， petro-politics in Nigeria， the Sonangol scandal in Angola， uranium exploitation in Niger and gold exports financing the apartheidsregime in South Africa。 Although his thesis is internally valid and the revelations compelling， it is not new neither ground-breaking for someone who is well-read on root causes of failure in African markets。 What I found the most interesting insights were the pieces on 'China's Africa game'， underscored by the Sam Pa & Queensway group case， and the failures of Bretton Woods institutions in reforming African economies， most notably Angola。 。。。more
Brooke Hanraty
，
Enlightening but very difficult to follow
Umbar
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Very good， learned lots。 A bit sad which is unfortunately unavoidable
Nils
，
A dizzying account of the complex global corporate machinations that enable the looting of Africa’s natural resources for the benefits of kleptocrats and their business partners at home and unscrupulous foreign businessmen， from Israeli Dan Gertler to Hong Kong financier Sam Pa。 At the time of its publication， in 2015， it was particularly pathbreaking in documenting the crucial role of China in facilitating the latest round of corruption and resource curse misery In Africa by generating demand f A dizzying account of the complex global corporate machinations that enable the looting of Africa’s natural resources for the benefits of kleptocrats and their business partners at home and unscrupulous foreign businessmen， from Israeli Dan Gertler to Hong Kong financier Sam Pa。 At the time of its publication， in 2015， it was particularly pathbreaking in documenting the crucial role of China in facilitating the latest round of corruption and resource curse misery In Africa by generating demand for those resources and turning a blind eye to the financial improprieties than the businessmen and government officials get up to。 The corporate arrangements are by design bafflingly complex in order to obscure their beneficiaries （and dodge taxes）; Burgis perhaps does a better job of conveying the complexity than of clarifying it… makes Angola out to be the real poster child for sophisticated kleptocratic initiatives carried out by the ruling elite of a few dozen families and their allies， known as the Futungo。 。。。more
dromoman
，
A book about Sam Pa and the Queens way Group。 That should have been on the cover， so there I have said it。 Now go read this very informative and important book if you don't know what I am talking about。 A book about Sam Pa and the Queens way Group。 That should have been on the cover， so there I have said it。 Now go read this very informative and important book if you don't know what I am talking about。 。。。more
Matt Gale
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Superb， read it， the end。
H。J。 Evans
，
Wow。 Tom Burgis demonstrates the web of money that continues to pillage Africa， and at every turn， you find yourself going， "WHAT？ There's no way that's real。"It IS real， and it's bad。 Wow。 Tom Burgis demonstrates the web of money that continues to pillage Africa， and at every turn， you find yourself going， "WHAT？ There's no way that's real。"It IS real， and it's bad。 。。。more
Lesa
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Scary but basically what we saw
Sabrina
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I will probably read every book that Tom Burgis writes。 Not only does he make the complexity of global tax avoidance， bribery by mining corporations and western government’s complicity accessible - he makes it interesting！
Kongkan SAIKIA
，
If you prefer hopeful/happy ending， this book is not for you。The author Tom Burgis， a multi award winning investigative journalist， tries to explain the terrible situation of hunger and oppression prevailing in a large parts of Africa and its symbiotic relation with the advanced societies。 Nowhere is the term "resource curse" more prevalent than the countries like Nigeria， Angola， Congo etc。 which are rich in mineral resources but the wealth generated remains limited to the ones in the power and If you prefer hopeful/happy ending， this book is not for you。The author Tom Burgis， a multi award winning investigative journalist， tries to explain the terrible situation of hunger and oppression prevailing in a large parts of Africa and its symbiotic relation with the advanced societies。 Nowhere is the term "resource curse" more prevalent than the countries like Nigeria， Angola， Congo etc。 which are rich in mineral resources but the wealth generated remains limited to the ones in the power and there are no efforts to improve the living standards of the larger population。 These kleptocrats often siphon off public revenue for self indulgence and use every means to maintain their control - rig elections， stifle opposition and even execute massacres。 At the same time the advance nations/ world organizations turn a blind eye to such events because of their vested interests。 China/Israel/France/US all benefit from the easy access to the natural resources and same gets consumed by people worldwide in forms of fuel， jewellery， mobiles， electricity etc。 making each one of us complicit in the tragedy。The book remains true to its goal of laying the facts with brutal honesty and does not indulge in any false pretense of hope when there are none。 Serious readers may find some of events mentioned in the book quite disturbing but this is the real world we live in。 。。。more
Oliver Kim
，
An admirable book that suffers somewhat from a lack of organization。 Burgis has clearly put in the legwork， with each chapter covering a different country， and an impressive amount of background explaining the key actor/looters。 There is a loose thread connecting all the anecdotes in the shadowy figure of Sam Pa， whose Hong Kong-based Queensway Group seems to have its finger in every nasty dishonest pie。 But I found that there was simply too much information to keep track of -- the book lacks a An admirable book that suffers somewhat from a lack of organization。 Burgis has clearly put in the legwork， with each chapter covering a different country， and an impressive amount of background explaining the key actor/looters。 There is a loose thread connecting all the anecdotes in the shadowy figure of Sam Pa， whose Hong Kong-based Queensway Group seems to have its finger in every nasty dishonest pie。 But I found that there was simply too much information to keep track of -- the book lacks a clear analytical hook tying everything together， other than the obvious point that the looting of Africa has continued long after the purported end of empire。 But I suppose it's a point well worth making， again and again， until we in the West realize our complicity and end the looting。 。。。more
Michael Harry
，
Tom Burgis names and shames here and goes into explicit detail with examples of exactly what goes on。 Most of these types of books talk in broad terms and theories about how this works but here we get the meat and bones of it all。 What dutch diseases is， why resource is a curse。 I combine this video with CGP Greys youtube video on the rules for rulers and get a complete picture of the trap Africa is stuck in。I'm not sure what to do with this information besides feeling depressed。 I wish simply s Tom Burgis names and shames here and goes into explicit detail with examples of exactly what goes on。 Most of these types of books talk in broad terms and theories about how this works but here we get the meat and bones of it all。 What dutch diseases is， why resource is a curse。 I combine this video with CGP Greys youtube video on the rules for rulers and get a complete picture of the trap Africa is stuck in。I'm not sure what to do with this information besides feeling depressed。 I wish simply shaming and airing the dirt of Africa's looters both internal and external would curtail their business somewhat but it won't。 There are no solutions offered to the resource curse， the author didn't make that his remit。 But it is explained definitively。Very educational read。 。。。more
Leigh Ann
，
As someone completely unversed in global economics， this was a semi-accessible read。 Burgis does rely on the reader's basic understanding of how supply and demand and capitalism works。 The author does well piecing together the history of the exploitation of Africa， and the narrative is fascinating。 I really appreciated the humanization of leaders， pointing out that they can empathize， but they are caught between a rock and a hard place: if they don't perpetuate the machine that crushes them， the As someone completely unversed in global economics， this was a semi-accessible read。 Burgis does rely on the reader's basic understanding of how supply and demand and capitalism works。 The author does well piecing together the history of the exploitation of Africa， and the narrative is fascinating。 I really appreciated the humanization of leaders， pointing out that they can empathize， but they are caught between a rock and a hard place: if they don't perpetuate the machine that crushes them， they will also be crushed beneath it。 Overall an excellent exposé of the industrial powers' mostly legal methods of exploitation。 。。。more
Iman Syed
，
The sheer amount of research in this book is mindblowing。 For that same reason， I really don't recommend listening to it as an audiobook like I did， unless you have amazing comprehension/attention （which I don't）。 I liked how it took a country by country approach to discussion， making comparisons where necessary。 I would say that it would be nice to have seen a bit more reflective/overview-oriented thinking rather than such incredibly detailed and long-winded exposition of various governments an The sheer amount of research in this book is mindblowing。 For that same reason， I really don't recommend listening to it as an audiobook like I did， unless you have amazing comprehension/attention （which I don't）。 I liked how it took a country by country approach to discussion， making comparisons where necessary。 I would say that it would be nice to have seen a bit more reflective/overview-oriented thinking rather than such incredibly detailed and long-winded exposition of various governments and companies， but at the same time that clearly wasn't the point of the book。 If you have a lot of time and patience this would be an incredible read 。。。more
Grant Godfrey
，
The Looting Machine is a good read for anyone interested in Africa， governance， and the nexus of corruption， globalization and extractive industries，。 Drawing on the author’s experience reporting from resource-rich African states， it illustrates how elites in power work with financiers and market makers in the West， and increasingly in China， to control access to materials needed for modern life， enrich themselves， and perpetuate cycles of corrupt and unresponsive governance and violence。 A stro The Looting Machine is a good read for anyone interested in Africa， governance， and the nexus of corruption， globalization and extractive industries，。 Drawing on the author’s experience reporting from resource-rich African states， it illustrates how elites in power work with financiers and market makers in the West， and increasingly in China， to control access to materials needed for modern life， enrich themselves， and perpetuate cycles of corrupt and unresponsive governance and violence。 A strong point is the way he ties information from his access to insiders and decision-makers to the stories of those who have been dispossessed。 are suffering or have taken up arms in consequence。 It’s not an uplifting book， but it does a good job of tying together how a web of strands in the global economy work together in a destructive fashion that must be addressed。 。。。more
Jada
，
this was a really informative book about Africa， it's rulers and the large companies that steal their resources。 I liked the writing style since it wasn't hard to follow。 this was a really informative book about Africa， it's rulers and the large companies that steal their resources。 I liked the writing style since it wasn't hard to follow。 。。。more
Kudzanai Chapeyama
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Decent read。 Not half as good as his more recent stuff though。
Eryn-Ashlei
，
Tom Burgis does it again with this incredible fact-based account of the resource curse that plagues African nations。 As large multinational organizations pillage the continent for precious resources and leave millions of Africans none the richer from the national endowment of its riches， “Don’t think you’re not involved。” - NnekaThis book brings to light other issues like Chinese investment in Africa。 The book also highlights underlying dynamics whereby African politicians “oblige” for resource Tom Burgis does it again with this incredible fact-based account of the resource curse that plagues African nations。 As large multinational organizations pillage the continent for precious resources and leave millions of Africans none the richer from the national endowment of its riches， “Don’t think you’re not involved。” - NnekaThis book brings to light other issues like Chinese investment in Africa。 The book also highlights underlying dynamics whereby African politicians “oblige” for resource rents and infrastructure investment。 。。。more
Jason Hall
，
Unfortunately， it makes you angry about something you feel as though you have very little control over。 Can't help but to wonder what African countries would look like if they had the political systems to direct the billions in wealth that have been extracted and squandered to the development of its people。 Unfortunately， it makes you angry about something you feel as though you have very little control over。 Can't help but to wonder what African countries would look like if they had the political systems to direct the billions in wealth that have been extracted and squandered to the development of its people。 。。。more
Drew Davis
，
This is the type of book that makes you so mad about what you didn't know that you do more research。 Too often Africa is treated as an overarching simplistic concept when talked about in history and in modern potlitics but in reality it is complex and nuanced collection of countries， each with their own history and struggles， often fueled by the very resources within them。 I highly recommend this book to anyone interested in geopolitics， economics， history， etc。 This is the type of book that makes you so mad about what you didn't know that you do more research。 Too often Africa is treated as an overarching simplistic concept when talked about in history and in modern potlitics but in reality it is complex and nuanced collection of countries， each with their own history and struggles， often fueled by the very resources within them。 I highly recommend this book to anyone interested in geopolitics， economics， history， etc。 。。。more
Darren Ross
，
An excellent book covering a topic I had some awareness of， but was unaware of what extent it went on at。 Would recommend for anyone with an interest in the politics of sub-sahara Africa
Sergio
，
Incredible and worrying take on the corruption and violence around the extraction of natural resources in Africa， and how a few are getting unimaginable rich while the rest of the population are far worse because of it。 The amount of research the author has made is awe inspiring。
Josh Smith
，
Very insightful look into the issues plaguing Africa from the perspective of foreign companies plundering the continent for its natural resources。 This plundering has ultimately led to corruption and a very marginal benefit to the actual citizens of each country。 Much of the wealth promised to Africa has been limited to those in power while the majority of the population has essentially been left in poverty。
Viola
，
The Congolese are consistently rated as the planet’s poorest people， significantly worse off than other destitute Africans。 In the decade from 2000， the Congolese were the only nationality whose gross domestic product per capita， a rough measure of average incomes， was less than a dollar a day。” 。。。。。“But often front companies’ ultimate owners are concealed behind layers of corporate secrecy。 One reason why foreign resources companies conduct what is known as ‘due diligence’ before embarking on The Congolese are consistently rated as the planet’s poorest people， significantly worse off than other destitute Africans。 In the decade from 2000， the Congolese were the only nationality whose gross domestic product per capita， a rough measure of average incomes， was less than a dollar a day。” 。。。。。“But often front companies’ ultimate owners are concealed behind layers of corporate secrecy。 One reason why foreign resources companies conduct what is known as ‘due diligence’ before embarking on investments abroad is to seek to establish who really owns their local partners。” ― Tom Burgis， The Looting Machine: Warlords， Tycoons， Smugglers and the Systematic Theft of Africa's Wealth 。。。more
Maxwell Kenyatta
，
This is by far the best book I read about what is happening in Africa in regards to her resources which are being exploited by the multinationals。 Tom Burgis gives an account of what has been/is happening in Agola， Congo， Nigeria （Niger Delta） and some of these millionnaires who benefit by swindling Africa and African of their resources （ Oil and minerals）
Jared
，
“So China takes our primary goods and sells us manufactured ones。 This was also the essence of colonialism。 The British went to Africa and India to secure raw materials and markets。 Africa is now willingly opening itself up to a new form of imperialism。” - Lamido Sanusi， former governor of Nigeria’s central bankWHAT IS THIS BOOK ABOUT？- This book exposes the truth about the African development miracle: for the resources states， it’s a mirage。 The oil， copper， diamonds， gold， and coltan deposits “So China takes our primary goods and sells us manufactured ones。 This was also the essence of colonialism。 The British went to Africa and India to secure raw materials and markets。 Africa is now willingly opening itself up to a new form of imperialism。” - Lamido Sanusi， former governor of Nigeria’s central bankWHAT IS THIS BOOK ABOUT？- This book exposes the truth about the African development miracle: for the resources states， it’s a mirage。 The oil， copper， diamonds， gold， and coltan deposits attract a global network of traders， bankers， corporate extractors， and investors who combine with venal political cabals to loot the states’ value。RESOURCE CURSE- Analysts at the consultancy McKinsey have calculated that 69 percent of people in extreme poverty live in countries where oil， gas， and minerals play a dominant role in the economy and that average incomes in those countries are overwhelmingly below the global average。THE COLLECTION OF TAXES AND CONSENT OF THE GOVERNED- At extreme levels the contract between rulers and the ruled breaks down because the ruling class does not need to tax the people to fund the government—so it has no need of their consent。- without taxation， there is no representation。 Not being funded by the people， the rulers of resource states are not beholden to them。SOCIAL CONTRACT IS REPLACED WITH RESORTING TO VIOLENCE， TRIBALISM- In resource states ethnicity takes a terrible form。 As resource rents beget a ruling class that is not accountable to the people， power is maintained through patronage。 Public service is largely abandoned。 With no record of service to point to， politics becomes a game of mobilizing one’s ethnic brethren。 For us to win， they have to lose。 The social contract is replaced with a compact of violence。MASSACRES- Joseph Kabila， the Congolese president whose shadow state is partly responsible for the violence that stalks his country， once said， “The worst thing I have ever seen is the sight of a village after a massacre; you can never erase that from your memory。”AFRICA: RICH， BUT AT THE SAME TIME IS POOR- Africa accounts for 13 percent of the world’s population and just 2 percent of its cumulative gross domestic product， but it is the repository of 15 percent of the planet’s crude oil reserves， 40 percent of its gold， and 80 percent of its platinum—- In 2010 fuel and mineral exports from Africa were worth $333 billion， more than seven times the value of the aid that went in the opposite direction （and that is before you factor in the vast sums spirited out of the continent through corruption and tax fiddles）。- There was no mobile phone reception， an irony in a part of the world whose tantalum is crucial in making the devices。- Nigeria may be the largest source of African energy exports， but it generates only enough electricity to power one toaster for every forty-four of its own people。SHADOW GOVERNMENTS- Sonangol， the Angolan state oil company that serves， in the words of Paula Cristina Roque， an Angola expert， as the “chief economic motor” of a “shadow government controlled and manipulated by the presidency。”- an Angola specialist who has studied dos Santos’s rule for many years， calls the regime a “cryptocracy”—a system of government in which the levers of power are hidden。- “You can’t develop the country through parallel institutions。 Every infrastructure project you undertake is not done through a strategic vision but with a view to the personal financial results，”- Between 2007 and 2012 just 2。5 percent of the $41 billion that the mining industry generated in Congo flowed into the country’s meager budget。 Meanwhile， the shadow state flourishes。CORRUPTION IS SUPPORTED BY FOREIGNERS- Nigeria’s looters have had willing overseas accomplices: “Of course， most of the time corruption is supported by foreigners。 They come here with the perception that everything goes here。 They just do all kinds of things， and that’s how they actually corrupted our people。”RELATIVE LEVELS OF CORRUPTION- The difference between a corrupted resource state and a state that can still call itself a place of representative rule is the extent to which such subversion of public office for personal benefit is the scandal or the norm。AFRICA （LIKE ANYWHERE ELSE） IS NOT INHERENTLY CORRUPT- Chinua Achebe， the late Nigerian writer， wrote in 1983， “The trouble with Nigeria is simply and squarely a failure of leadership。 There is nothing basically wrong with the Nigerian character。 There is nothing wrong with the Nigerian land or climate or water or air or anything else。 The Nigerian problem is the unwillingness or inability of its leaders to rise to the responsibility， to the challenge of personal example which are the hallmarks of true leadership。”GOVERNMENTS （OFTEN INTENTIONALLY） ABDICATING DUTIES- “Without a Congolese state capable of playing its role in controlling and running affairs， how can the minerals of Kivu be de-criminalised？”- “As a result of the collapse of the state， everybody， from the president down， is trying to find his own power， his own security。 People are falling back on vigilante groups。”WEAPONS AND DEFENSE- Angola’s 2013 budget allocated 18 percent of public spending to defense and public order， 5 percent to health， and 8 percent to education。 That means the government spent 1。4 times as much on defense as it did on health and schools combined。- But the mining trade is particularly lucrative and has the advantage of bringing in foreign currency that can buy arms。- One study by two Norway-based academics， based on years of arms import statistics and governance indicators， found that the United States had a greater propensity than China to sell weapons to repressive African governments。- As Rhodes knew， to profit from natural resources， one has need of armed forces to protect both the terrain under which they lie and the political status quo。CONFLICT MINERALS- During the war UN investigators described companies trading minerals as “the engine of the conflict。”“I DON’T EVEN LIVE IN AFRICA， WHAT’S THIS GOT TO DO WITH ME？”- The boom in mobile phones as well as in the rest of consumer electronics and games consoles caused voracious demand for tantalum。- We prefer not to think of the mothers of eastern Congo， the slum dwellers of Luanda， and the miners of Marange as we talk on our phones， fill up our cars， and propose to our lovers。- She gave an instruction， one that applies to all of Africa’s looted nations: “Don’t think you’re not involved。”THE ‘LOOTING MACHINE’- In the dry language of the World Bank Salim was describing the looting machine: the alliance between shadow governments and the resource industry that tramples over the people who live where oil and minerals are found。THE ‘LOOTING MACHINE’ IS VERY ADAPTABLE- The state’s loss is the smugglers’ gain: when the official routes are closed， the clandestine trade picks up the slack。A DOWNWARD SPIRAL- The dollars that pay for exported hydrocarbons， minerals， ores， and gems push up the value of the local currency。 Imports become cheaper relative to locally made products， undercutting homegrown enterprises。- A cycle of economic addiction sets in: the decay of the other parts of the economy increases the dependency on natural resources。- The pattern was the same as in Angola or Congo: the more the non-oil economy withered， the greater the impulse to embezzle， perpetuating the cycle of looting。CONVERSION OF ILL-GOTTEN WEALTH- Because money launderers are seeking primarily to turn dirty cash into other assets as quickly as possible rather than to turn a profit or invest prudently， they are happy to pay more than a fair price for goods and services。THE ROLE OF INTELLIGENCE - “Today intelligence is not for starting wars，” Ariel said。 “Today intelligence is for natural resources。”CHINA HAS A VERY EXPANSIVE ROLE IN THE LOOTING OF AFRICA- The Chinese began to take control of the market， in league with Nigerian vendors。- The biggest deals， replicated across the continent’s resource states， involved a cheap loan， typically in the single-digit billions of dollars， to fund infrastructure built by Chinese companies and to be repaid in oil or minerals。- In 2002 Chinese trade with Africa was worth $13 billion a year， half as much as African trade with the United States。 A decade later it was worth $180 billion， three times the value of Africa-US trade—HOW CHINA OPERATES IN AFRICA- Beijing was offering Niger and other African states a genuinely new bargain: infrastructure without interference。 China proposed to build roads and ports and refineries on a scale scarcely countenanced by the European colonizers or the cold warriors。 In exchange it sought not allegiance to a creed so much as access to oil， minerals， and markets。- China’s presence here， on this continent， the fact that China is engaged in exploration projects， in production projects， in projects of transformation—that gives another option to African countries。”- complaints that followed Chinese companies around Africa—that they imported their own labor or， when they employed locals， did so for poor pay and in poor conditions—- These Chinese loans have interest rates higher than what traditional donors like the World Bank offer but lower than those available from commercial banks。 Often， as in Angola， the repayments are not in cash but in natural resources。CHINA EVEN ASKS THE ‘UGLY ONES TO DANCE’- The Queensway Group’s forays into Madagascar and Niger came to nothing， but they illuminate a key element of its approach: Sam Pa offers pariah governments a ready-made technique for turning their countries’ natural resources into cash when few others are prepared to do business with them。THE ROLE OF MIDDLE MEN- Middlemen were required—especially middlemen who could open the doors to the dictators and kleptocrats who controlled the riches of the soils and seabeds of Africa， home to some of the greatest untapped reserves of commodities。“BUSINESS OR PLEASURE？”- As one of the foremost middlemen in China’s advance into Africa， Sam Pa has adopted the tactics of Françafrique: fuse the power of those who hold offices of state with private business interests so as to enrich both from the exploitation of African natural resources。*** *** *** *** ***FACTOIDS- The world’s four longest-serving rulers—Teodoro Obiang Nguema of Equatorial Guinea， José Eduardo dos Santos of Angola， Robert Mugabe of Zimbabwe， and Paul Biya of Cameroon—each preside over an African state rich in oil or minerals。 Between them they have ruled for 136 years。- Today Angola boasts sub-Saharan Africa’s third-biggest economy， after Nigeria and South Africa。 Luanda consistently ranks at the top of surveys of the world’s most expensive cities for expatriates， ahead of Singapore， Tokyo， and Zurich。- The Congolese are consistently rated as the planet’s poorest people， significantly worse off than other destitute Africans。- Africa Confidential， the most comprehensive publication in English on the continent’s affairs，- Nigeria produces only half as much electricity as North Korea。- There is no direct translation that captures the meaning of the Mandarin word ， or guanxi。 It connotes something like the Western ideas of connections or relationships or network， only far more pervasive。- Antwerp。 The Belgian port has been the center of the diamond trade for five centuries and is still the conduit for the vast majority of rough stones that flow in from distant mines to be cut， polished， and sold on to jewelers。- In east Africa they have a saying: “When elephants fight， the grass gets trampled。”- the International Finance Corporation， the arm of the World Bank that lends money to private-sector projects。- mining was the world’s most hazardous occupation， employing less than 1 percent of all workers but accounting for 5 percent of all deaths on the job，- African losses from trade mispricing alone are roughly equivalent to the continent’s income from aid。- trade in stolen crude oil known as “bunkering。”。。。 bunkering gangs used two techniques: siphoning oil from a functioning pipeline （“hot-tapping”） or blowing up the pipe and carting off the crude that spills out （“cold-tapping”）。- The Star of Africa， cut from the Cullinan diamond， the largest ever found at more than three thousand carats， is mounted on the Sovereign’s Sceptre in the British Crown Jewels， kept at the Tower of London。HAHA- what used to be called the National Electric Power Authority， or NEPA （but known as Never Expect Power Anytime）。 It was rebranded as the Power Holding Company of Nigeria， or PHCN （Please Have Candles Nearby or， simply， Problem Has Changed Name）。- To the eye， Françafrique reads like a harmless amalgam of France and Afrique， suggesting two peoples joined in common cause。 Spoken aloud， however， it conjures something closer to the truth: France à fric—a play on the French for “cash，” which might be loosely translated as “France’s cash machine。”- And that was just the basic payoff—higher-ranking officials could have expected much more。 In the days leading up to the primary so much hard currency changed hands in Abuja that the dollar-naira exchange rate moved。BONUS- Angola’s capital is one of the world’s most expensive cities: https://youtu。be/ioEQHUuz23k- Conflict minerals: https://youtu。be/aF-sJgcoY20- Glencore: https://youtu。be/u6rSBifsvwg- Viktor Bout （the real-life ‘Lord of War’）: https://youtu。be/XvPGIcVRKco- Kimberley Process （to combat blood diamond trade）: https://youtu。be/aFqxEJzDlK0- What is the Chinese concept ‘guanxi’？: https://youtu。be/QIkECIFd4R8- Sam Pa （Chinese middleman in Africa）: https://youtu。be/LvLJ8zeJa8M- Iron ore project in Guinea gets scrapped: https://youtu。be/0WXJDdFyQcs- What is ‘Françafrique’？: https://youtu。be/QBds1wZxf0o- Battle over oil in Nigeria: https://youtu。be/vAgw_Zyznx0- The Cullinan Diamond: https://youtu。be/9RsUpa-hcYE- The Hope Diamond: https://youtu。be/t-ihhvxdu7Q- Diamonds lost from Monaco Formula One race car which were part of ‘Oceans 12’ promotion？！: https://youtu。be/KqNIwsbstng- Cecil Rhodes （a pretty despicable exploiter of southern African resources）: https://youtu。be/0J-sKeVoGLQ 。。。more
JoJo
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This was an eye opener。 Fantastic read
Sandip Sen
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