[AnAfrican]

That's very simplistic.

Here's a great case :

It is often said that the West picked Mobutu over Lumumba because the lattest was seen as a threat to mining interests.

Yet Mobutu nationalized the mines, then nationalized and redistributed most foreign assets.

And yet he was still supporter by the West.

The explanation: Mobutu played his cards right. The West was worried about Communism, he declared himself as strongly anti-communist and that was enough.

[astrodust]

Also overly simplistic: "The West".

Remember there were often multiple competing powers each eager to sabotage the others if they couldn't get what they wanted.

Sometimes a corrupt government was a sort of "area denial" on resources. The old "If I can't get them, then neither can you" approach.