Conflict Diamonds

Conflict Diamonds
in Sierra Leone

Name:Muhanad Abdulla Al Shehhi

ID: H00049313
Section: CQM
 Conflict Diamonds
Sierra Leone’s Civil War and Its Links to
Diamonds – Key Facts/dates
The civil war has resulted in much of the country becoming
inaccessible to security forces, and also the major cause for
encouraging illegal mining and smuggling.

The war has transformed Sierra Leone into one of the poorest
countries in Africa, which is painfully ironic since its diamond
mines are among the richest on the continent.

In March 2003, the U.N. Special Court in Sierra Leone “indicted

several of those involved in the civil war in Sierra Leone for
war crimes, crimes against humanity, and violations of
international humanitarian law.” But the fate of those indicted
is uncertain. The U.N. Court cannot simply “round up” the
usual suspects and think that is enough.

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 Conflict Diamonds
The Winners – Who Are They and How
Have They Benefited?
• Rebel diamond smugglers claim they sell these gems freely to
licensed traders in government territory. They laugh at the
concept that the market bothers to distinguish between their
diamonds and legitimate stones. They claim the government
is as corrupt as they are.
• Meanwhile the rebels have a ready market on the other side -
officials are bribed, and many of the diamond traders are
unlicensed, happy to buy stones - no questions asked.
• The rebels sell some of the gems for cash and exchange
others for weapons that keep this war going.

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 Conflict Diamonds

The Victims – Who Are They and

How Are They Affected?
• Between 1991 and 1999 the war took over 75,000
lives, caused half a million Sierra Leoneans to
become refugees and has displaced half of the
country's 4.5 million people.
• The war was fuelled by diamond wealth and fought,
largely, by children and teenagers resulting in a terror
campaign on civilians - including the frequent
dismemberment of victims.

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 Conflict Diamonds
Views From the Frontline - Personal
Stories or Quotes From People Living
in Sierra Leone.
• Many were used as slave labour. Others fled in their thousands only to
starve or die of malaria in the jungle. Former miners like Tamba Lebie
tell a common story:
• "The rebels drove us out in 1992, we fled to another country. We went
and lived in Guinea like refugees. It was a constant struggle. We came
back and started to settle again, they drove us out again, burnt all our
houses, our cars, took our money, everything... It even got to the point
where you hid from the rebels, from the militia and even the
government soldiers."
• Tamba lost most of his family to the RUF rebels. Others suffered the
punishment typical for anyone suspected of opposing the rebels -
amputation of one or both hands.

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 Conflict Diamonds

Signs of Hope After the End of Civil

War
• The war was scheduled to have ended by now. Two
years ago, after the rebels signed a peace treaty, the
United Nations sent in peacekeepers. There are now
12,000 of them here, the largest contingent anywhere
in the world.
But while UN troops patrol the streets of Freetown, the
rebels maintain their grip on most of the country —
where they occupy and profit from the country's vast
diamond deposits.

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 Conflict Diamonds

Conclusion

• Over all, this is a dangerous problems for

African societies. In my opinion this disaster
can’t be solved until these societies united
together against the criminal and the colonist.

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