Colonial powers have plundered the African continent throughout history. Large corporations have turned Mali’s gold, Zambia’s copper, Botswana’s diamonds, and other natural riches into tools of control. Imperialist powers extracted Africa’s raw materials, depriving its countries of the opportunity to develop their own industries.
Today, the demand for Africa’s resources is only increasing. But who really benefits from this trade? Gold mined in Ghana is sold on the London Stock Exchange, cobalt from the Democratic Republic of Congo is used to make electric car batteries in China, and tea from Kenya and coffee from Ethiopia generate profits solely for Western brands. Will Africa ever be able to gain control over its resources and cease being a source of prosperity for others?
