GAS CONFLICT IN AFRICA

World Bank defines natural resources as materials that occur in nature and are essential

or useful to humans, such as water, air, forest, fish, land wildlife, topsoil, and minerals. These

are essentially grouped into renewable and non-renewable resources. In most cases, renewable

resources such as cropland, water and forests can be replenished over time by natural

processes and if not overused are indefinitely sustainable. Non-renewable resources such as

diamonds, minerals, and gas are found in finite quantities, and their value increases as

supplies dwindle. A nation’s access to natural resources often determines its wealth and status

in the world economic system.(World Bank 2000/01).

Fearon and Laitin (2003) argued that natural resources increase the ‘prize’ value of

capturing the state. The first variant should lead to the local expulsion of the government, as

in Colombia; the second is a bid to gain state control as in Chad, or as argued by Engelbert

and Ron (2004). Plausibly the first variant may lead to the second or vice versa as in Sierra

Leone where control of the diamond areas weakened the state, which was easily captured by

the rebels. In a third variant, if natural resources are concentrated in a particular region of a

country, this may ground beliefs among dissatisfied groups that seceding from state could be

viable or even prosperous.(Ibid)

Natural resources like gas and oil enrich Nigerians, but they have not alleviated poverty and

deprivation in the oil-bearing areas of the Niger Delta. UNDP (2006). Gas-bearing areas have

been exposed to ecological risks which have culminated in the violence characterizing the

region. Literature has highlighted the consequences of oil exploitation, such as social tension

culminating in violent communal crisis, youth restlessness, and oil companies’ brutal

repression.(World Bank 1995) At present, the oil-bearing areas remain marginalized from the

mainstream economic, social, and political activities in Nigeria. The Nigerian government’s

top-down approach to the development of the oil-bearing areas has not been people-centered

and participatory. Recommendations from this study include improved infrastructure, more

equitable distribution of resources, improved local governance, effective conflict management

mechanisms, and better environmental management Engelbert and Ron (2004)

In November 2001, the Nigerian government under President Olusegun Obasanjo set up a

Special Security Committee for areas producing oil to address Nigeria’s many conflict-related

problems due to oil extractions. (Human Rights Watch 1999). Oil bunkering is not the only

concern for stability and prosperity of Nigeria, but also the other significant problems have

included alleged government corruption and the collusion of multinational companies

extracting oil, poverty spread, particularly in Delta State and environmental degradation

caused by oil extraction processes in the area of Niger Delta. These problems, coupled with

the violence and revenue loss due to oil bunkering present a stark picture not only to Nigeria,

but also to other countries with similar vulnerabilities

CAUSES OF CONFLICTS

marginalization and exclusion of parts of the country in the sharing of national resources. The Mtwara gas ‘saga’ offers a good example of such conflicts: in early 2013 Mtwara residents scatted to the streets demanding that gas being drilled in their region should first benefit the residents. The demonstrations became violent and fatal, leaving in their wake the loss of life and limb as well as deprivation of property. Daily News & Tanzania Daima 29 November 2012.

Anunequal and unfair sharing of national resources. The natural resources in the mining sector

offer a good example: in regions where mining takes place, there have been endless clashes

between small-scale miners and big mining companies. Another example relates to the

frequent clashes between farmers and pastoralists competing for land settlement, especially in

areas experiencing scarcity of green pasture and water.

Human rights violations and democratic governance: though a multiparty democracy,

Tanzania continues to be challenged by expressions of freedom. Democracy is not only about

elections but also the degree of freedom with which citizens can speak out and take part in

public affairs. This freedom can easily spark violent eruptions and has occasionally witnessed

police denying political parties permission to hold demonstrations. People become defiant,

upon which police find an excuse to beat, teargas and arrest people. Conflicts between police

and civilians are sometimes a consequence of human rights violations, with people deciding

to fight back when they feel that their rights have been violated by law enforcement officials.

Political factors are also a common source of conflict and violence in Tanzania. The factors

are considered in relation to escalation of conflict and violence, and they include ideological

differences and orientations, manifestos, funding and structures.

Political factors, which also include political competitions especially during election periods, are also a threat to peace in Tanzania. In an effort to mobilize as many supporters as possible, the politicians or their agents tend to trigger incidents of violence that pit their supporters against those of rival parties, as has been the case in some regions both on the mainland and Zanzibar. Some

political parties can trigger inter-party conflicts with far reaching implications not only to

party supporters but also to the people not interested in politics. Political leaders, through

their speeches and the loyalty from supporters, may spur conflict initially with rival leaders,

eventually spilling over to supporters within a given community.

Religious factors also threaten peace in Tanzania; beliefs play a major role in determining

interpersonal, international and intercommunity relations. Religious conflicts may occur due

to various factors. Mainstream faith traditions have fundamental doctrinal teachings and

followers are expected to abide by them in belief and practice. Conflict may occur when the

progressives or those who want changes or are in favor of a new way of looking at faith issues

clash with conservatives or a group that is too orthodox and opposed to any changes that

might affect their ways. This could create hatred between the two camps which may escalate

into conflict. Considering one religion to be superior to another can cause tensions in communities that previously lived harmoniously, respecting each other, and such tension can escalate intoconflict which could instigate a violent situation costing lives.

Unequal share is another cause of violence in Tanzania. This has resulted in employment of

know-whom rather than know-how in most of the government sectors known as threats to

peace. There has been no tangible solution to the problem of youth unemployment, a situation

which has led to a rise of youth gangs in both urban and rural areas. ways, both the society and the government.

THE MAIN IMPAPCT OF OIL AND NATURAL GAS CONFLIT

loss of innocent lives and thus the loss of one’s right to life. Many people were killed by the police

by gun and torture at Nalyendele prison (Guantanamo) by police. Sometimes the one killed is

either one of the parents or in a family or a young man who is also a very important economic

pillar (human resources) of the respective family. So his or her absence leads to the economic

bankruptcy of the family concerned. Others remain permanently injured due to gun wounds.

Natural gas conflict creates loss of property. Among the property that was destroyed were

government and private vehicles, including two ambulances, court building, shops, houses

belonging prominent politicians figure. It was revealed in other area that protestors destroyed

more than 11 vehicles belonging to the Masasi District Council, torched a court building, district education office and several local officials’ homes; said one community member.

The conflict brought fear, sadness and loss of peace among community members following the death of their fellow community member who was killed by a bomb. Police, who fired teargas to break up the riots, arrested more than 90 people and the town is “now calm andunder control by the military using strong weapons like tanks and the like.” under control by the military using strong weapons like tanks and the like.” attention to the developmental needs of the poorly performing resource abundant countries and the challenge .

WAYS FORWARD

Given the confirmed commercially viable quantity of natural gas, the government should

recognize and treat Tanzania as a resource-rich country. To that end, it is high time the

government takes note of the country’s current requirements and works to coordinate a

national consensus-building process intended to figure out the national development vision,

well-developed and informed by Tanzania country experiences and environment in which the

oil, gas and other extractive industries are recognized as engines to realize that vision of

national development.The government should strive to ensure that every Tanzanian is informed and well aware of issues related to natural gas exploration, development and exploitation. The information package about natural gas should be seen comprehensible, accessible and available to all Tanzanians as means to help people link their private and public development and investment plans to ongoing natural gas developments, in effect fitting into the national development vision.

Much as natural gas is a strategic resource, the policy, laws, regulations and institutions designed to regulate natural gas industries in the country must be strategically crafted and fitted. To that end, the government must act quickly to establish adequate and appropriate natural gas policy, laws, regulations and institutions; introduce proper strategies for reinforcing compliance to transparency and accountability standards in the course of regulating the resources; and move to introduce natural gas knowledge content in and at all levels of the Tanzanian education system.Various economic opportunity such as industries, as well as social services like hospitals, schools and roads have to be well established to give the society of Mtwara opportunity foremployment and improved development, bringing it in line with other regions of the country.

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