The geopolitics of oil: the potential challenges in African continent

Nafta je „crno zlato“ suvremenog svijeta koja je početkom XX. stoljeća postala veliko političko sredstvo zadobivanja moći i bogatstva. Svjetske sile teže ovladavanjem što veće količine naftnih izvora što dovodi do mnogih sukoba i ratova, koji su često prikriveni pod krinkom borbe protiv terorizma, borbe za ljudska prava i demokraciju, itd. Glavni paradoks naftnih resursa leži u činjenici da su zemlje bogate naftnim izvorima nerijetko siromašne i nerazvijene, dok su one siromašnih naftnih izvora bogate i razvijene. Problem je u činjenici kako razvijene države radi nedostatka vlastitih naftnih rezervi često ulaze u sukobe sa zemljama koje imaju veće količine nafte, te na taj način uzrokuju nemire, nestabilnost i sukobe u tim državama, što im posljedično onemogućava razvoj i napredak. Afrika je kontinent koji obiluje većim količinama naftnih izvora, te ukupno 23 države na svom teritoriju posjeduju određene količine naftnih rezervi. Sve navedene države su u nekom trenutku povijesti imale određene sukobe na svom teritoriju, s iznimkom države Benin, te je čak 15 država imalo sukobe povezane s naftom, od koji se neki vode i danas. Činjenica je kako je Afrika sve više na meti svjetskih moćnika koji žele ovladati njezinim naftnim resursima, a poseban naglasak stavlja se na budućnost s pretpostavkom kako će se sukobi povezani s naftom u Africi sve više povećavati, usporedno s pomanjkanjem naftnih rezervi na Bliskom istoku. Bliski istok je prvi doživio invaziju svjetskih sila zbog svojih nalazišta nafte, a sve pod izlikom borbe protiv terorizma. S obzirom da se iscrpljivanje naftnih zaliha Bliskog istoka bliži svom vrhuncu, postoji velika opasnost da će svjetske sile svoj fokus usmjeriti na države afričkog kontinenta. Nedvojbeno je kako živimo u svijetu naftnih sukoba i nemilosrdne borbe za ovladavanjem naftnih izvorišta, za koje se očekuje da će se s vremenom sve više povećavati. Nafta je postala glavni izvor moći i bogatstva u svijetu jer tko posjeduje naftu, posjeduje moć i mogućnost kontrole tržišta i svjetskog gospodarstva. Upravo zbog toga nastaviti će se voditi i pojačavati ratovi oko nafte jer su svjetske sile nemilosrdne u svom naumu da zauzmu što veće količine naftnih rezervi te ojačaju svoju poziciju u svijetu.In modern world oil is considered as "black gold" which has become a great political instrument for obtaining power and wealth in the beginning of XX. century. World leaders are trying to control as many as possible oil resources which is leading towards many conflicts and wars, which are often lead under the mask of wars against the terrorism, democracy and human rights, etc. The main paradox of oil resources is the fact that oil rich countries are often poor and underdeveloped, while those who are oil poor are rich and developed. The problem lies in the fact that wealth countries, because of their lack of oil resources, often step into the conflicts with oil rich countries which is causing turbulence, unstability and conflicts. This is preventing oil rich countries to develop and grow. Africa is a continent with lots of oil resources, with 23 countries in total which are possesing meaningful oil reserves. All those countries had some kind of conflict and war on their territory, with the exception of Benin. That makes 15 countries in total which have had an oil connected conflicts, with few still lasting. The fact is that Africa is on world leaders target because of her's oil resources and this situation will progress even more with oil deficiency in Middle Eeast. Middle East is the first one who has experienced invasion of world leaders because of it's oil, with the excuse of war against terrorism. Considering the situation in which Middle East is in slight lack of the oil resources, we can assume that the focus is going to be transferred on Africa. It is without doubt that we live in a world fulfilled with oil conflicts which are expected to grow even more in the future. Oil has become the main power and wealth source because who ownes the oil, ownes the power and control over the world market and economy. That is why the oil conflicts will countinue to increase with the world leaders who are ruthless in their attempt to conquer as much as possible oil resources, and to strenghten their position in the world