Throughout the past few days I conducted some in depth research on specific events throughout the history of Sierra Leone. One specific aspect of Sierra Leone’s history that intrigued me the most was the topic of “Blood Diamonds” or “Conflict Diamonds”. Essentially, conflict diamonds are diamonds mined by forced workers (under the rule of rebel groups) and through rebel movements to continuously fund their arms purchases. Conflict diamonds ring true to their name, because it is because of their allure and wealth that Sierra Leone along with other countries are under such grief circumstances today.
Sierra Leone’s world-wide diamond trade began in the 1930s when the London based company of De Beers got legal power over diamond mining for the next almost 100 years. Freetown played an essential role in the diamond industry as it was the diamond export center of Sierra Leone. This then became a catalyst for what was yet to come. Throughout the next 60 years, the diamond trade would rise and fall however most of the diamond trade came from illegal mining. Near the end of the 20th century, under Prime Minister Joseph Momoh illegitimate diamond mining increased and thrived prevalently throughout Sierra Leone. Sierra Leone was incredibly vulnerable by 1991, and by March of that year a civil war began. The Revolutionary United Front (RUF) was a rebel group who would took control of Sierra Leone and its black market diamond industry.
One of the main things that shocked me while researching, was that by the 1950’s the government almost “gave up” regulating the diamond trade and because of this monitoring it now proves to be difficult. The RUF knew that to rule the diamond districts would be to rule all of Sierra Leone. There is an undeniable connection between the conflict Sierra Leone experiences today and the diamonds found under its soil. The RUF used many tactics in order to gain control over regions. It is said that they have broken every law within the Geneva convention and even created a new form of violating them.
The life of a diamond-miner is filled with hardship. They work from sunrise to sunset. Many of the miners are shot and killed if ever they so much as take a 5 minute break. They are shot if they try to find food, if they refuse to turn over a diamond, or if they escape. What is even more concerning is that workers have to “use the toilet” right in the already dirty rivers they work in. This in turn contributes to the ever more growing concern of water quality in Sierra Leone.
Additional Information:
· 10-15% or higher of the world’s diamond trade are blood diamonds
· Average income of a miner: a dollar a day
· From 1991-1999 (during the civil war) there were over 75,000 casualties, 500,000 were refugees and half of the population was displaced.
· In 2000, a treaty was signed between RUF and the government, saying that RUF would relinquish their forces for a share in Sierra Leone’s government.
· However, this peace was short lived and after seven months of the signing of the treaty, RUF forces once again assaulted the capitol of Freetown as well as the government.
· Sierra Leonean Army nicknamed “Sobels”, which significance is “rebels by day, soldiers by night”
Definitely makes you think twice before buying an engagement ring.
Bibliography:
http://www.stanford.edu/class/e297c/Conflict%20in%20Sierra%20Leone.htm
Videos:
http://www.history.com/video.do?name=worldhistory&bcpid=1681730306&bclid=1672160781
Blood Diamonds: A Diamond in the Hand, War Crimes, A Personal History, Beyond the Blood Shed
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