Corruption, Capital Flight & Colonialism | Impacts & Links
Uncover a web of exploitation and resistance tied to GlencoreS Africa mining operations. This examination spotlights accusations of corruption and tax avoidance across multiple nations, including the DRC and Zambia, where billions in revenue have been lost. Learn how Glencore‘s actions in Chad and Nigeria have exacerbated poverty, while the company admitted to bribery to secure favorable oil deals. The article explores colonialism‘s persistence through resource extraction. Burkina Faso’s bold move toward nationalization signals a possible shift. News Directory 3 delivers insights into the push for greater control over natural resources and the future of multinational corporations in Africa. Discover what’s next for the continent.
Glencore’s Africa Mining Operations Marred by Corruption, Exploitation
Updated June 01, 2025
Glencore, the Swiss-based multinational, faces mounting criticism over its mining operations in Africa. Allegations of corruption, tax avoidance, and resource exploitation plague its activities across the continent, even as some nations begin to push back against what they describe as neo-colonial practices.
In 2022, Glencore admitted to paying bribes in multiple African countries, including rerouting royalties from the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) to sanctioned individuals and engaging in tax avoidance in Zambia. The company also locked Chad into an oil-for-debt arrangement that consumed a large portion of the nation’s oil income.
The DRC, a major cobalt supplier, sees its mineral wealth overshadowed by corruption and pollution. Glencore’s ties to Dan Gertler, an Israeli businessman sanctioned for corrupt mining deals, have drawn scrutiny. The company pleaded guilty in U.S. and U.K. courts to paying millions in bribes in the DRC, yet a large percentage of the population remains in poverty.
In Zambia, Glencore’s Mopani copper Mines faced accusations of underpricing copper exports, overcharging for inputs, and avoiding taxes, resulting in billions of dollars in lost revenue for Zambia.The company denied wrongdoing until a court ruling forced it to repay taxes. Mass layoffs and high levels of pollution further impacted Zambian communities.
Glencore’s troubles extend to Nigeria, where it admitted to bribing officials at the state oil firm NNPC to secure favorable oil deals. Despite Nigeria’s vast oil exports, a meaningful portion of its population lives in poverty.
Chad also suffered from Glencore’s lending practices. A $1.45 billion loan, secured against future oil sales, resulted in the country allocating a large share of its oil income to debt repayments, hindering its ability to fund essential services.
Cameroon saw similar issues, with Glencore admitting to paying millions in bribes to officials at the state oil firm SNH. While the U.K. prosecuted Glencore,no Cameroonian officials faced jail time.
However, a shift may be occurring in Burkina Faso, where interim president Ibrahim Traoré is challenging neo-colonialism and reclaiming national sovereignty, particularly in the gold mining sector.Traoré has nationalized major gold mines, created a state-run gold company, and banned raw gold exports to build a domestic refinery.
We will mine it ourselves.
Traoré’s actions are resonating across Africa, especially in nations still bound by foreign mining licenses and unequal contracts. He has also expelled French troops and aligned Burkina Faso with Mali and Niger, forming a bloc that rejects Western economic control.
What’s next
As scrutiny of Glencore’s operations intensifies, other African nations may follow Burkina Faso’s lead in seeking greater control over their natural resources. The push for openness and accountability in the mining sector could reshape the relationship between multinational corporations and African countries.