The Looting Machine: Warlords, Tycoons, Smugglers and the Systematic Theft of Africa’s Wealth

With a personal interest and involvement in the oil industry in the Nigerian delta I found those parts of the book about Nigeria enlightening and informative. It is clearly a heavily researched book by a well informed journalist but the detail with which he investigates the corruption and the warring factions in the oil industry in Angola or Equatorial Guinea or the mineral industry in the Congo induced me to skip complete sections.His thesis is that the resource curse of oil, gas and mineral riches leads to corruption, ethnic violence and extreme poverty rates. The economies of any country with resource riches become distorted as their overvalued currencies emasculate other industries in the country. It is called the Dutch Disease, as experienced by Holland in 1977. As the value of local currency goes up, imports become cheaper undercutting homegrown enterprises. For example the strength of the Nigerian currency due to its oil wealth led to the undercutting and demise of the Nigerian textile industry by cheap imported Chinese garments.Tom Burgis argues that the resource industry is hardwired for corruption. Kleptocracy, or government by theft, thrives. The revenues from licensing oil and minerals are called economic rent and do not make for good management. Pots of money are at the disposal of those who control the state. The contract between rulers and ruled breaks down because the ruling class does not need to tax the people to fund the government so has no need for their consent.Tom Burgis is particularly enlightening about the approach and role of the Chinese. Good guanxi requires cultivation of personal ties that carry as much force as any written contract. Not to return a personal favour is a grave social transgression. When applied to politics and business guanxi can become indistinguishable from corruption or nepotism. Tom Burgis’s description of Sam Pa, a Chinese businessman, spy, arms trader who was instrumental in huge Chinese investment in China’s trade with Africa with cheap loans to fund infrastructure repaid in oil or minerals is an example of the grey area between investment and corruption.But Tom Burgis is fair about the dilemma of the African business men and politicians. There are obligations on successful people for their family and community and the lines between, nepotism, corruption and survival are close. Fall off the looting machine and the consequences can be dire – your house can burn and you and your family can be crushed.A thought provoking read. It does not make me stop supplying spill control equipment to the Nigerian delta even though I can be accused of complicity in the corruption. Isolation from the issues by European companies is not the solution.

I read this book a few years ago but I remember a lot. The analysis is supported by many case studies. It keeps away from the easy trap to blame all the issues of African countries on the former colonial country. It shows the corruption at the head of most states and describes it as the main reason why despite considerable mineral resources most countries are poverty ridden. I recently ordered this book for the son a a friend who is a young journalist, because I think it is a compulsory read to understand Africa. Congratulations to the author.

This could have been a great book.The subject matter is of huge significance, the author's passion is matched by his meticulous research. But... The author ain't no writer. The narrative is incredibly dense and poorly structured. It's like being harrangued by an academic.A big shame as the author has attempted to bring the story of Africa's ongoing exploitation up to date in the 21st century describing the latest rapacious plunderer of Africa's resources into focus; China.Unfortunately that focus is not particularly sharp!

stunning and eye opening book that rips open the belly of corruption in resource rich SSA countries. The Chinese are late comers to the game but have managed to catch up and in a lot of cases bypass the incumbent "old" colonial powers. Would have liked to seen a little more on the corruption taking place in the Francophone SSA countries as this really does (did?) go to Presidential level and would have balanced out some of the Anglo detail. End of the day it is thievery and the countries involved will all have hell to pay come the day of reckoning and that day hopefully is on the horizon for the poor who pay the cost. A fine and readable book .

Read about 30 pages and found it boring.You get the point very soon that rich countries are looting African countries. And then you are given this same view in every paragraph till you are bored to death.

Disgusting, terrifying story superbly written. Lifting the lid on the rape of Africa. Everyone should read this to be clear as to the filthy things that are going on even if they think they can guess already. I didn't get to finish reading it before a Nigerian friend came in and snatched it away murmuring how she hoped that the new President Buhari would at least be able to stop some of the corruption and theft.

It took me more than seven months to go through this book. As an African I owe it to my children to fight to right the projected wrongs. Africa is rich. We need to re engineer governance, accountability and stewardship. We have no option but to turn the curse around. It's Renaissance time...

Absolutely brilliant. Informed,intelligent and very addictive reading about a profoundly challenging subject.I've not heard of Tom Burgess before but the fellow can write with conviction ,passion and rational assessment.

It has always been a paradox: Africa is so rich in resources, but always remains poor. Why is that? This book suggests that the richness of resources might actually be feeling or "driving" the corruption which results in some unscrupulous locals and foreignors "looting" most/all benefits, while leaving the local population poor, if not actually destitute.Elsewhere, in TED talks, we are reminded that Africa does not want charity! It merely wants a chance to participate in global commerce and work its way up, like most other (esp. 1st world) countries. It is very hard to do, if someone keeps stealing all of the benefits and profits.

Excellently researched revelation of the underside of the energy and raw materials market in Africa - indeed a blighted continent.I heartily recommend this book.

This is easily the best book I have read in recent times. In fact, I bought This US in 2015 and read it twice. When I came back to India I wanted to buy a personal copy and lend it to my friends to share the pleasure of reading it, but then the price was prohibitive. Now that Amazon helped me to buy it in affordable price, I have no hesitation to give it 5 stars

Burgis has a superb experience and insights into this topic and writes very well, drawing good analogies. Recommended reading for everyone dealing with Africa.

It is the untold truth about Africa .I am ashamed by the behaviour of so called patriotic politiciens .Ca we look at Asia raising nations ?