Diamond Wars in Africa:Sierra Leone

Katie Crain

A Diamond is Forever…

…So are the devastating consequences of Blood Diamonds.

What is a Conflict Diamond?

Conflict Diamonds in the African Nations

• Angola• Botswana*• Central African Republic• Democratic Republic of

Congo• Ivory Coast• Liberia • Namibia*• Sierra Leone • South Africa* • Tanzania*

* Diamonds have never been used to fund conflict.

The Diamond Pipeline:From the Mine to the Customer

• In 1998 the diamond industry produced 115 million carats of rough diamonds.

• This was converted into 67.1 million pieces of jewelry.

The Significance ofConflict Diamonds

• Conflict diamonds have fueled an 11 year war in Sierra Leone.

• During the war, about 20% of diamonds sold were from conflict.

RUF and the War in Sierra Leone1991-1999

• Revolutionary United Front (RUF) launched war in 1991 to overthrow the government.

• In 1992, RUF was successful in their mission.• However, the attacks continued.

Hope for the Sierra Leonean People

• April 1996- Presidential and Parliamentary elections were held in hopes that a civilian government would reconcile issues with RUF.

• Ahmad Tejan Kabbah was elected President.

• Conflict continued through elections as RUF refused to acknowledge the new powers.– The Armed Forces Revolutionary

Council overthrew Kabbah on May 25,1997.

• Kabbah returns to power in March 1998 with the help of Nigerian forces.

• RUF was then offered a peace agreement from Kabbah.

• RUF accepted but refused to comply.• In 1999, a “re-charged” RUF emerged.

The Conflict Continues...

Revolutionary United FrontRUF

-12 year old Saidu Kargbo was captured by the rebels when he was 6.

“No more slaves, no more masters. Power and

wealth to the people.”

RUF Emerges • 3 founders • Unique political views: RUF did not associate itself with any

one in particular. • Promised a “bright future” • Goals: end economic hardship and create a multiparty

government• RUF became ruthless and cruel in order to keep the power of

Sierra Leone.

RUF Atrocities • Child soldiers• Mutilation and

amputation• Massacres• Murder• Rape

"Diamonds might have been our blessing, but they have turned out to be our worst curse,"-Desmond Luke

“The Future is in your Hands.”-1996 Elections

But without hands, you have no future.

Human Impacts• From 1991-2001, approximately 70,000 people had been

killed.• 55% of the population live in conflict areas.• Over 1,800 amputees • 470,000 refugees

• Fled to Guinea and Liberia

Hope for Sierra Leone1999-2005

• The UN intervened in 1999 and a ceasefire is granted to Freetown.

• Rebels again overtake Freetown in 2000.

• In 2001, rebels begin to disarm

• January 2002, war is declared over.

•In 2004, war crime trials began and the first local elections in over three years were held.

•December 2005, the very last UN troops leave.

Solutions• The key is for the diamond trade and governments to

communicate.• The Kimberley Process• The Clean Diamond Trade Act

The Kimberley Process• Set up and ratified by the members of the UN• Created the Kimberley Process Certification Scheme • As of 2009, there were 75 countries involved.• Internal certification of all diamonds • Import/ Export certification • Governments must certify the origin of rough diamonds.

The Role of the United States

• The U.S. purchases 65% of the world diamond supply.

• The U.S. must take the lead in to end the trade of conflict diamonds.

“We must protect the American purchases of love from the subsidies of terror,”

Rory E. Anderson

Bibliography Online Articles:“Background Note: Sierra Leone.” Bureau of African Affairs. U.S. Department of State.

1 Aug 2011. Web. 15 Sept 2011. “In Sierra Leone: Darkness, Not Diamonds’ Dazzle.” Freetown Journal. New York

Times. 9 Oct 1995. Web. 14 Sept 2011. “Timeline: Sierra Leone.” BBC News. BBC News, 7 May 2011. Web. 14 Sept 2011. Speech:Anderson, Rory E. “Conflict Diamonds: Funding Conflict, Fueling Change.” U.S.

Department of State. 10 Oct 2001. World Vision. Web. 15 Sept 2011. Documentary: Reid, Dominic Cunningham, narr. Diamonds of War: Africa’s Blood Diamonds. National

Geographic, 2003. DVD.Internet : “Background.” UNAMSIL: United Nations mission in Sierra Leone. 2005.

http://www.un.org/en/peacekeeping/missions/past/unamsil/background.html , Web. 15 Sept 2011. “Diamond Producing Countries in Africa: Fact Sheet.” World Diamond Council.

Diamondfacts.org, Web. 15 Sept 2011. “The Kimberley Process.” SimpleFolio. http://blooddiamonds.org/the-kimberley-process.

Web. 15 Sept 2011.