Finding Diamonds in Africa

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.

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.