Natural Resources and the Cote Ivoire 2010 Political Conflict; the Lesson to African Contemporary Society

In most developing countries of the world especially Africa, the politics of natural resources management has been a contentious issue. The struggle for the control of natural resources instigates sometimes ethnic politics that results to conflicts. In the cause of this political conflicts by different political actors from different regions, cultural and ethnic background, tend to lead to breakdown of laws and order, unnecessary destruction of private and government property, killing of innocent citizens and displacement of peoples home and business centers. The paper therefore discussed the history of Cote d'Ivoire's political economy and how the struggle for the control of the resources resulted to the political crisis. The paper discussed the relationship between the natural resources and political conflict. The paper also highlighted the socio-political implications of the crisis and the lesson for Africa. Resource curse theory was used to explain their action. The paper recommends an evenly distribution of a country's economic proceeds irrespective of the peoples religious and ethnic background by the African leaders.