The Political Economy of Oil and Mineral Exploitation in Cameroon: Can This Lead to Conflict?

Abstract

This essay draws on theoretical and empirical evidence of secrecy in the management of oil rents by the government of Cameroon and the ensuing underdevelopment in the main oil and mineral exploitation regions of the country. The aim is to investigate if these failures can influence future rents related conflicts. The paper argues that to avoid oil and mineral related conflicts, human security through financial transparency in conjunction with socio economic development and the political structure of a country can influence security in the exploitation of natural resources than military surveillance.

Cameroons main oil revenues are generated from the Rio Del Rey region off the Bakassi Peninsula of the Gulf of Guinea. This region is situated in what is known as Ndian Division in the South West region of the country. Like most resource rich areas of the country, there is rampant poverty in this area and the region is not accessible because there is a lack of any modern means of transport (e.g. roads, airport, railways, seaport, etc). Giving the cultural relationship between Ndian indigenes and several tribes in eastern Nigeria and Niger Delta’s own oil related conflicts, if appropriate measures are not taken to ensure there is substainable and inclusive development in Ndian Division, there are bound to be oil related conflicts. The essay recommends that the Cameroonian government, Ndian elites, members of the civil society and the international community work together to ensure oil and mineral rents are used to provide basic facilities to indigenes and settlers of those resource rich communities.