Minerals must benefit countries, communities, not finance criminals, conflict
BY PAUL TENTENA Countries and communities, especially in resource-rich Africa, must benefit most from the minerals in their own backyards, speakers affirmed at a Security Council debate on “Natural resources governance: the foundation of peace, security and prosperity”. The demand for critical energy transition minerals such as lithium, cobalt, nickel and rare earth elements is set to almost triple by 2030. In its March briefing on energy, critical minerals and security, the Council heard that mining has been linked to human rights abuses and conflict . Ministers and delegates today stressed the importance of ensuring that these resources support development, even as they differed on what resource governance should look like. UN Secretary-General António Guterres drew attention to how revenues from illicit exploitation are pushing peace out of reach — “by strengthening armed and criminal actors, connecting local violence to re...