From Conflicts to Cooperation The Resource Nexus as a Pathway to Peace and Prosperity in Africa

Prof. Tshilidzi Marwala Rector of the United Nations University and UN Under-Secretary-General
H.R.H. Princess Dr. h.c. Abze Djigma Initiator and leader of the MAMA-LIGHT Initiative, Co-Chair of the UNFCCC Paris Committee on Capacity-Building
Anacláudia Rossbach (tbc) Executive Director, UN-Habitat (Nairobi, Kenya) and UN Under-Secretary-General
Lars Bergmann Founder and CEO, VIADUCT Technologies GmbH
Chair Sonja Hahn-Tomer Executive and Liaison Officer, United Nations University

Reliable access to environmental resources is fundamental for our lives. Just south of Europe, Africa is exceptionally rich in resources, holding immense potential for economic development and prosperity. Yet, the continent faces various challenges in harnessing these resources, with resource-related conflicts among the most pressing. The continent´s history has shown that competition over minerals, water and land has often resulted in violence and war.

The term „blood diamonds“ exemplifies how the illicit trade of precious raw materials has financed civil wars and terrorism. Similarly, the race for renewable energy sources – critical for Africa’s sustainable future – is entangled in geopolitical struggles, as countries vie for access to rare earth minerals needed for solar panels, wind turbines, and batteries. In the Democratic Republic of the Congo, for instance, Coltan has been at the heart of conflicts, where armed groups, state actors and private companies compete for access. This competition has only intensified with the global rise in demand for rare earth elements, which are essential for green technologies and digital infrastructure.

Water conflicts are no less alarming. Disputes over rivers and dams threaten regional stability, as illustrated by the tensions between Ethiopia, Egypt, and Sudan over the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam. Further south, Lake Chad – a vital resource for millions across Nigeria, Chad, Cameroon, and Niger – has dramatically shrunk due to climate change and overuse, exacerbating conflicts involving Boko Haram and other militant groups. Thus, water scarcity in the Sahel is not only an environmental but also a security issue. Other examples include conflicts over biota, deforestation, and degrading soil.

However, efforts are underway—both within Africa and internationally—to address resource-related conflicts. Integrated resource management and nexus approaches, fair trade, or sustainable supply chains are among the most promising strategies. At the same time, we must examine the responsibility of states, industries, and individual consumers.

How can the global community contribute to long-term solutions? How can we defuse or prevent conflicts through integrated and sustainable resource management? And how do we ensure that the local communities are the primary beneficiaries of these efforts?

In Kooperation mit UNU-Flores, dem Zentrum für Internationale Studien der TU Dresden, der Stiftung Entwicklung und Frieden im Rahmen der Dresden Nexus Conference 2025Die Veranstaltung findet in englischer Sprache ohne Übersetzung statt / The event will be held in English without translation into German.