Rebeller och Resurser: Hur tillgången till olika typer av naturresurser påverkar intensiteten av våld mot civila hos rebellgrupper i Sierra Leone och Nigeria

Sammanfattning: The purpose of this essay is to examine whether different types of natural resources, in this case diamonds and oil, have an impact on the intensity of violence of rebel groups and, if so, to what extent. We have made a comparative analysis based on two theories; the resource curse and the rebels’ resource curse. We have examined RUF in Sierra Leone and MEND in Nigeria, and what connections they have to natural resources. We have in both cases found a connection between the type of natural resource and the methods and modus operandi of rebel groups. There is, for instance, a significant correlation between a high degree of lootability of a natural resource, in this case secondary diamonds, and the intensity of violence. However, more research is required in this field in order to draw any definite conclusions.