Conflict Over Oil.

Oil can bring great wealth into a country but, It can also put a country at risk for conflict. Another country can invade another country to get control of oil reserves. Leaders can be pushed from power by a rival group. The area of the country containing the natural resource may break away from the rest of the nation. For example an invasion happened Kuwait that was caused by oil in 1990. Iraq invaded the oil-rich country. After Iraq refused to withdraw its troops, the United States fought to free Kuwait. Iraq’s soldiers left Kuwait in 1991, following the Persian Gulf War.

A country depending on oil for money is also at risk of having its government overthrown. This happens when a rival group gains support of the country’s military. The group forcefully takes over leadership of the country. This is called a military coup. The oil-rich country of Nigeria had eight successful military coups between 1966 and 1993.Nigeria also endured a civil war tied to oil.

Division between countries was bigger by a want to control the country’s oil fields. Several states left to make the Republic of Biafra in 1967. More than 1 million people died from fighting and lack of food before the country was reunited in 1970.