What Is a Blood Diamond?
A blood diamond, also known as a conflict diamond or a war diamond, is a gemstone produced from diamond mining in a war zone These diamonds are used to finance armed conflicts that often result in human rights abuses, including the displacement of local communities and human trafficking. The conflict diamonds are mined and then sold on the black market, often unregulated, to make money for weapons and other supplies for wars.
The issue of conflict diamonds is an important one that has gained attention in recent years, particularly in the countries where the diamonds are mined: Angola, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Ivory Coast, Liberia, and Sierra Leone.
The term “blood diamond” was popularized during the civil wars of the 1990s in Liberia and Sierra Leone, when the Revolutionary United Front and the National Union for the Total Independence of Angola used diamond revenues to purchase weapons and fund their military activities. According to the United Nations, conflict diamonds account for approximately 4% of the global diamond trade.
The Kimberly Process Certification Scheme was established in 2003 in an effort to prevent the flow of conflict diamonds by regulating the diamond trade and preventing diamonds from being sold to finance conflicts. This certification process has reduced the number of conflict diamonds in circulation and increased the traceability of diamonds.
Five Best Examples of Conflict Diamonds
1. The Democratic Republic of Congo: The civil war in the Democratic Republic of Congo led to the displacement of millions of people, as well as increased poverty, famine, and human rights abuses. The country’s vast diamond resources were exploited by foreign companies, and the conflict diamonds were used to finance the purchase of weapons for rebel forces.
2. Angola: Conflict diamonds from Angola were a major source of revenue for the National Union for the Total Independence of Angola, who used the revenue to purchase weapons and fund their military activities during the Angolan Civil War.
3. Liberia: During the civil war in Liberia, conflict diamonds were a major source of income for the Revolutionary United Front, and the profits were used to purchase weapons, recruit child soldiers, and fund other activities.
4. Sierra Leone: Conflict diamonds mined in Sierra Leone were used to finance the purchase of weapons, recruit child soldiers, and fund other activities during the Sierra Leone Civil War.
5. Ivory Coast: The Ivory Coast’s diamond resources were exploited by foreign companies, and the profits were used to purchase weapons and other supplies for rebel forces. The conflict diamonds were also used to finance human rights abuses, including mass killings and forced labor.