In 2012, CNN broadcasted an analysis on how diamonds fuel conflicts in Africa. The story rose out of the trial of Charles Taylor, a former President of Liberia, at the International Court for crimes against humanity committed in Sierra Leone. The civil war in Sierra Leone was funded by the proceeds from the illegal sales of the alluvial diamonds found in Sierra Leone. The abundant natural resource was used to kill and main the people it should have benefited. The RUF rebel forces as well as the government forces committed horrendous atrocities against the people of Sierra Leone most of whom still live with the scars inflicted by the rebels. The gross human rights violation involved the amputations of arms, legs, noses and ears if the victim was suspected of corroborating with the government. The Liberian government was also culpable in the human rights violation for having supported the rebels with arms and logistics.
Table of Contents
1. Introduction
2. Human rights
3. Human Rights Violation
4. What are diamonds?
5. Origin of Diamonds
6. The problem of blood diamonds
7. Non-Governmental Organizations involvement in diamonds
8. The Kimberly process
9. Sierra Leone and the blood diamonds
10. The Conflict Background
11. The Government Involvement in Diamonds and War
12. Neighboring Countries Role in the Civil War
13. Conclusion
Objectives and Topics
The primary objective of this paper is to investigate the causal link between the illicit trade of blood diamonds and the escalation of civil conflict in Africa, with a specific focus on the human rights violations committed during the civil war in Sierra Leone. It explores how natural resource wealth can be transformed into a driver of poverty and instability when exploited by warring factions and state actors.
- The impact of conflict diamonds on regional instability in West Africa.
- The intersection of human rights abuses and the illegal diamond trade.
- The role of non-governmental organizations and international sanctions.
- State complicity and the involvement of foreign regimes in financing armed groups.
- The historical development and limitations of the Kimberley Process.
Excerpt from the Book
Sierra Leone and the blood diamonds
Although Sierra Leone is one of the most scenic places in Africa, it is not the natural scenery that it is known for but the gross human rights abuses during the horrific civil war that run between 1991 t0 2002. The war is supposed to have claimed the life’s of thousands of the citizens. The rebels chopped off body parts of their victims such as hands, arms, legs and other parts of the victims’ body. Women and girls were gang-raped, enslaved, and sexually abused while children were forcibly recruited as soldiers and forced to commit crimes while intoxicated with alcohol and drugs.
The cause of the war was extreme poverty, poor governance, and endemic corruption as well as denial of human rights. Despite being endowed with natural resources, the country experienced economic decline in the 1980s largely due to the rampant corruption. The rich diamond mines escalated the conflict between various groups as well as the government. The massive exploitation of the diamond resources escalated the war to the extent that it became known as the blood diamond mainly because the rebels used the proceeds from the illegal sales of the diamonds to buy arms that were used against the people of Sierra Leone.
Chapter Summaries
Introduction: Provides an overview of the role of blood diamonds in financing African civil wars and introduces the specific case study of Sierra Leone.
Human rights: Defines the fundamental nature of human rights and the duty of states to protect citizens from systemic abuse.
Human Rights Violation: Examines the specific manifestations of human rights abuses, including torture and mutilation, within the context of armed conflict.
What are diamonds?: Explores the historical and cultural significance of diamonds as precious stones.
Origin of Diamonds: Details the geological formation of diamonds and the distinction between primary and alluvial deposits.
The problem of blood diamonds: Discusses the emergence of the blood diamond issue and the initial United Nations intervention efforts.
Non-Governmental Organizations involvement in diamonds: Highlights the critical role of organizations like Global Witness in exposing the link between rebel financing and the diamond trade.
The Kimberly process: Evaluates the establishment and effectiveness of the certification scheme designed to track rough diamonds.
Sierra Leone and the blood diamonds: Analyzes the specific impact of the diamond trade on the atrocities committed during the Sierra Leone civil war.
The Conflict Background: Traces the political history of the conflict and the tactical use of diamond mines by rebel forces.
The Government Involvement in Diamonds and War: Investigates the systemic corruption and complicity of state actors in facilitating the illicit diamond trade.
Neighboring Countries Role in the Civil War: Addresses the external support provided by neighboring regimes to sustain rebel forces.
Conclusion: Summarizes the complex interplay between resource wealth and regional conflict, noting the ongoing challenges for international certification efforts.
Keywords
Blood diamonds, conflict diamonds, Sierra Leone, human rights, civil war, RUF, Kimberley Process, resource exploitation, illicit trade, political corruption, Charles Taylor, diamond mines, international sanctions, Africa, humanitarian crisis.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the core subject of this paper?
The paper examines how the trade in conflict diamonds, often referred to as blood diamonds, has fueled civil wars in Africa, specifically focusing on the brutal conflict in Sierra Leone.
What are the primary thematic fields covered?
Key themes include international human rights law, political instability, the economics of natural resources, and the role of both non-state actors and government entities in diamond smuggling.
What is the central research question?
The research explores the link between the extraction of blood diamonds and the perpetuation of civil wars, asking how these resources contribute to systemic human rights violations and economic decline.
Which research methods are employed?
The work utilizes a qualitative approach, drawing on investigative reports, UN resolutions, and historical analysis of political and economic records from the affected region.
What does the main body address?
The main body details the geological and historical background of diamonds, documents the involvement of various NGOs in exposing the trade, and provides a timeline of the Sierra Leone civil war, including the role of external neighbors.
What keywords characterize the work?
Essential terms include blood diamonds, Sierra Leone, RUF, human rights violations, conflict-driven economic exploitation, and international regulatory frameworks like the Kimberley Process.
How did Charles Taylor influence the conflict?
Charles Taylor acted as a pivotal figure who provided rebels in Sierra Leone with logistical support, weapons, and marketing outlets for their illicitly mined diamonds in exchange for profit.
What are the limitations of the Kimberley Process according to the text?
The author suggests that while the process has helped reduce the trade of blood diamonds, it has yet to be fully effective, as evidenced by ongoing conflicts in regions like the DRC.
- Citar trabajo
- Caroline Mutuku (Autor), 2018, Blood Diamonds in Africa, Múnich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/428835
