Strong states a threat and boon to communities in Africa’s extractive sectors

The role and influence of state actors in Africa’s extractive sectors has increased significantly in recent years. A series of reforms have aimed at increasing national ownership and maximising domestic benefits from mining and oil and natural gas resources. Despite the recent fall in global commodity prices, these changes remain in place. This reconfigures relations between state, companies and communities in ways that might not always be beneficial from the communities’ point of view.

In a new article, Reconfigured state-community relations in Africa’s extractive sectors: insights from post-liberalisation Tanzania, DIIS researcher Rasmus Hundsbæk Pedersen and Thabit Jacob from Roskilde University discuss the implications of the re-emergence of State-Owned Enterprises in Tanzania’s extractive sectors for communities. Based on empirical research and case studies on coal and gas investments, they argue that the resurgence of the state-owned enterprises may undermine the rights of local communities and land-rights holders.

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