Sovereign risk

The Third World is also run by politicians.  Worse still, many are very corrupt and unprincipled.  Quite a few of my stocks will crash in value today.  Those exploring in Congo and Kenya will wonder what hit them!  Before finding anything, the government will promise good governance.  But after you find something rich and when the commodity price is good, the goal posts will shift.  That is one reason why some of the big boys stay away from them but Rio is in Congo....  RIO has already suspended an operation there before the announcement by the DRC.