Books LOOTING MACHINE by Tom Burgis

"Looting Machine" by Tom Burgis is a gripping investigative book that exposes the systematic theft and exploitation of Africa's natural resources by a complex network of corrupt elites, warlords, tycoons, and multinational corporations. Burgis reveals how resource-rich African countries like Angola, Nigeria, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Guinea, South Africa, and Zimbabwe have become controlled by "shadow states" where state and corporate power merge to enrich a small elite while the general population remains in poverty.

The book details how these elites use legal loopholes, secret deals, and offshore networks to secure resource rights and revenues at a fraction of their actual value. Key figures such as Angola’s Manuel Vicente, Democratic Republic of Congo’s Dan Gertler, and others operate within these networks, often benefiting from international collaboration with multinational companies and financial centers. Burgis also explores the broader consequences such as ethnic violence, corruption, and the failure of initiatives like South Africa's Black Economic Empowerment.