Ambiguity of Sovereignty over Natural Resources in West African States

Abstract

This article offers an in-depth analysis of the legal foundations of West African states’ sovereignty over their natural resources and examines how this sovereignty is undermined in practice. The author emphasizes the non-binding nature of United Nations resolutions and the limitations of national constitutions, which, despite explicit provisions, fail to safeguard resources against foreign powers and multinational corporations. Through concrete examples, the study highlights military interventions, destabilization efforts, and exploitative contracts that compromise the economic autonomy of these states. In conclusion, the article argues that the region’s natural resources primarily benefit global actors rather than local populations.