Exploitation of Africa’s Minerals, Coups: Five Things President Tinubu Said in His First UNGA Address
On Tuesday, September 20, 2023, President Bola Tinubu addressed the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA), his first such address since being elected as President of Nigeria.
Established in 1946, four months after the Second World War ended, the UNGA is one of the six principal organs of the United Nations (UN), serving as its primary deliberative, policymaking, and representative body.
Tinubu’s address, which focused on “enhanced international cooperation with African nations,” comes at a time when many parts of Africa are grappling with deteriorating democracies, insecurity due to extremist group activities, rising living costs, debts, and poverty.
Why African Development Should be a Priority for Other Nations
Africa, home to more than half of the world’s impoverished population, faces significant challenges in terms of slow infrastructural development. However, with a burgeoning young populace and a population accounting for 17.89% of the world’s total, Africa remains critical to the global economy’s sustainability.
“Global institutions, other nations, and their private sector actors must prioritize African development, recognizing its importance not only for Africa but also for their own interests,” emphasized President Bola Tinubu.
On Deteriorating Democracies in Africa
Between 2020 and 2023, Africa has experienced eight successful coups, with the most recent occurring in Gabon and Niger.
While offering assistance and partnership in restoring democratic rule in Niger as the Chairman of ECOWAS, President Tinubu stressed, “Military coups are detrimental, as are any biased civilian political arrangements that perpetuate injustice.”
Worsening Insecurity Issues in the Continent
For an extended period, many regions of Africa have been plagued by insecurity. In Nigeria, Boko Haram and bandits wreak havoc in the northern part of the country, while the southeastern region has faced insecurity due to the activities of the Indigenous People of Biafra and their armed wing, the Eastern Security Network (ENS).
“To effectively address this threat, the international community must bolster its commitment to curbing the influx of arms and violent individuals into West Africa,” emphasized Tinubu.
Exploitation of Africa’s Natural Resources
It has often been alleged that decades after colonialism ended, numerous foreign nations continue to exploit minerals from Africa’s shores.
In Congo, possessing an estimated 3.4 million metric tons of Cobalt, nearly half of the world’s known supply, approximately 75% of Congolese citizens live on less than $2 per day.
From Congo’s Cobalt to Niger’s Uranium, and Gabon to Nigeria’s oil, it is believed that foreign nations collaborate with local entities to exploit mineral resources.
“Foreign entities, aided by local criminals aspiring to become petty warlords, have conscripted thousands of people into forced labor to illicitly mine gold and other resources. Billions of dollars intended for national improvement now fuel violent enterprises. Left unchecked, these activities will jeopardize peace and severely threaten national security,” President Bola Tinubu warned.
Climate Change in Africa
The world is witnessing the consequences of climate change as global warming remains an urgent issue. Floods, earthquakes, and hurricanes continue to claim lives and property.
Nigeria, like many other African nations, has not been spared from the devastating effects of climate change. In 2022, a catastrophic flood claimed over 600 lives and cost the nation over N4 trillion.
In the fight against climate change, President Bola Tinubu emphasized that African nations should be allowed to address this issue on their terms to garner the necessary popular consensus and expected economic benefits.
