The issue of diamonds in Africa is one which has suffered from great debate and controversy over the years, especially over the past few years in particular. Commonly referred to as being ‘blood diamonds’, the diamonds in Africa are diamonds that have been mined in a war zone and which are then sold, usually in order to finance an insurgent, invading army’s war efforts or for an otherwise warlord inspired activity.

Sierra Leone

Sierra Leone is a critical aspect when speaking of the subject of diamonds in Africa, and basically what happened was that in following eight years of civil conflict, there were negotiations between the government of Sierra Leone and the Revolutionary United Front, and this resulting in leading to the signing of the Lome Peace Agreement, under which the parties that were involved agreed to the cessation of all hostilities.

They also agreed to the disarmament of all combatants as well as to the united formation of a government of national unity. Following great international concern at the role that was being played by the illicit diamond trade in Sierra Leone, there was a resolution created on July 5, 2000 which imposed a ban on all diamonds in Africa.

The diamond revenues in Sierra Leone have increased tenfold since this conflict came to a close, however it has been noted that more than fifty percent of diamond mining still remains unlicensed and illegal and reportedly considerable illegal smuggling of diamonds continues, and no one as of yet is sure what exactly to do in order to put a stop to this.

African Diamond

Diamonds in Africa are not the only diamonds considered as being ‘blood diamonds’, however, especially since the war between the United States and Iraq has been going on. In fact the East, particularly in areas such as Iraq and Iran, there has been an incredible increase in diamond mining and distribution, even though it as well is illegal as it is in Africa.

However as long as there is a profit to be made there are going to be diamond miners and sellers in these areas, and so there is really no way to stop this, at least not yet, just as there is no real way to stop other crimes, such as burglary. There are various methods and laws that are in place which attempt to at least keep the distribution of these diamonds to a minimum, although none of the methods presently in place seem to be having much of an effect.

Conflicts funded by Diamonds from Sierra Leone

Sierra Leone’s history is brutal and amazing, one of the poorest countries, yet valuable resources are plentiful. It doesn’t make a lot of sense until you realize that diamonds from Sierra Leone have been traded illegally for a long time. This trading can fund conflict and civil war, fuel corruption and leave the innocent with nothing. The exploitation of the reserves in this country led to continued battling with both the rebel forces and the various governments accusing each other of being corrupt. Cross border trafficking of diamonds from Sierra Leone has stripped the country of countless amounts of funding and despite attempts to crack down on this trade, it still continued relentlessly.

Trading of diamonds from Sierra Leone has long since been a source of power and finance to those willing to go to extremes to succeed. It is the innocent citizens of this country who have already suffered when the Revolutionary United Front and the Government opposed and fought over areas close to diamond mines. People have been raped, murdered and mutilated all for the sake of diamonds. Children were recruited to both sides and brainwashed and the aftermath of the conflicts has been huge levels of unemployment. Even during times of supposed peace, atrocities were still continuing and a lot of the problems were exacerbated by outside influences such as diamond traders interested in purchasing illegally trafficked diamonds from Sierra Leone at a low price.

Protecting Diamonds from Sierra Leone

The United Nations have attempted to bring peace to Sierra Leone but realizing that the diamonds were continuing the problems and making disarmament a problem, they established an 18 month ban on exports of diamonds from Sierra Leone in 2000. Only diamonds that were certified and originated in Freetown and legally sold were permitted to be traded. Corrupt members from all factions were mining diamonds and selling them to fund the purchase of weapons and certain activities so the logical progression was to impose sanctions on neighboring countries such as Liberia as well as banning the mining of diamonds from 2001.

Over the years countless attempts have been made to solve the crisis in Sierra Leone and to prevent diamonds from being used for criminal activities. It has never really clicked together and residents of Sierra Leone have always had to prepare themselves against the possibility of civil war and even worse, further fighting for control of the diamond mines. The innocent people of Sierra Leone have been cursed with valuable resources, especially diamond mines and they have been constantly taken advantage of over the years so that criminals can profit under the pretence of fighting for their country.