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The Looting Machine

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The Looting Machine

Warlords, Oligarchs, Corporations, Smugglers, and the Theft of Africa’s Wealth

Collins,

15 min read
8 take-aways
Audio & text

What's inside?

Why African countries are some of the world’s wealthiest – and poorest – nations.


Editorial Rating

8

Qualities

  • Comprehensive
  • Eye Opening
  • Concrete Examples

Recommendation

Africa pours out a wealth of raw materials – bauxite, iron, copper – as well as fossil fuels, uranium, gold and diamonds. Despite this natural wealth, desperate poverty besets many of its resource-rich countries. Tom Burgis, a veteran investigative journalist, shines a light on the “shadow states,” criminal networks and unscrupulous corporate entities that impoverish the continent while extracting vast profits. For readers seeking to understand the underlying causes of Africa’s suffering – and who benefits from that suffering – this unflinching account answers these questions with outrage and compassion.

About the Author

Investigations correspondent at the Financial Times Tom Burgis focuses on the natural resource industries.


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