Global Policy Forum

Government Ban on Diamond Mining Continues Despite UN Go-Ahead (June 5, 2007)
Although the UN Security Council noted Liberia's progress on implementing the Kimberly Accords and lifted sanctions on Liberian diamonds in April, the government has yet to legalize the diamond trade in the country. To prevent diamond sales from fueling future conflict, the Liberian government must reissue licenses, and train officials to monitor the diamond trade via ten regional offices. Additionally, the government must minimize illegal subsistence mining which still occurs. The government promises to invest diamond proceeds in schools, roads and hospitals.(Integrated Regional Information Networks)

UNSC Lifts Ban on Export of Liberian Diamonds (April 28, 2007)
The UN Security Council has voted unanimously to lift a ban on Liberian diamond exports imposed in 2001 under Resolution 1753. UK Ambassador to the UN Emyr Jones Parry says that the resolution shows recognition of the progress that the Liberian government has made in the certification of diamonds, showing their origin. Liberia is still subject to an arms embargo, a travel ban on certain individuals, and an asset freeze against former President Charles Taylor and his top officials. (Times – India)

UN to Lift Liberia's Diamond Sanctions (April 19, 2007)
The US has drafted a Security Council resolution lifting the diamond embargo that the Security Council imposed on Liberia since 2001. UK Ambassador to the UN Emyr Jones Parry says that provided the Liberian government has been applying rigorously the Kimberley certification system, most importantly making progress in the certification of its rough diamonds, the resolution should be passed by the end of April. (Independent Online – South Africa)

Liberia: Country Gets Another Chance (March 28, 2007)
The Analyst questions when the Liberian government will effectively institutionalize the Kimberley process and meet preconditions stipulated by the UN Sanctions Committee in order to lift sanctions on diamonds. The government must ensure a transparent certification system of rough diamonds. The Security Council has now extended the diamond sanctions under which all states are forbidden to directly or indirectly import all rough diamonds from Liberia to their territory, but has lifted sanctions on timber, praising the Government's forestry management.

UN Maintains Diamond Sanction, Demanding Better Government Controls (December 21, 2006)
The UN Security Council has renewed its diamond embargo against Liberia as the country has not demonstrated sufficient internal control necessary for certification. The African country's lucrative mines must wait until June 2007 for the Council to review the situation. Yet, Liberian officials warned that despite government efforts, illegal diamond mining takes place in the country, which opens the door for smuggling. (Integrated Regional Information Networks)

Ivorian Diamond Trade Goes on Despite Ban (December 18, 2006)
By a unanimous resolution, the UN Security Council extended the UN peacekeeping mission in Ivory Coast, as well as the arms and diamond embargoes. A recent report revealed that diamond smuggling via Mali and Ghana continued despite the rebels denial of violating the embargo. While Ghana may face suspension from the Kimberley certification scheme, Mali does not risk sanctions as it is not a member of the Kimberley Process. (Reuters)

The Sordid History Behind Africa's Conflict Diamonds (December 11, 2006)
This piece from the Christian Science Monitor underlines the issue of diamonds smuggled diamonds, which enable "conflict diamonds" to reach the international trading market despite UN embargoes. The diamond industry's practice of "don't ask, don't tell" transactions "gave the industry plausible deniability," the author says. Yet, when the UN imposes sanctions on countries, such as Sierra Leone, diamonds exports from neighboring countries rapidly exceed natural resources' limits, raising questions about how effective UN embargoes really are.

De Beers Backs Criticism of "Blood Diamond" Watchdog (November 1, 2006)
In response to the recent fraud scandals surrounding the certification of diamonds from conflict regions, De Beers, a major diamonds industrial group, has joined the mounting criticisms of the Kimberley Process. De Beers, also fearing the fallout from the Hollywood movie "The Blood Diamonds," stresses the need to enforce diamond trade controls and to address the deficiencies of the Kimberley Process. With its statement, De Beers backs NGOs' call on governments and industries to effectively enforce Kimberley regulations. (Reuters)

Govt Whisks Dust Off (October 31, 2006)
After the UN Security Council lifted the sanctions on timber, Liberia hopes the UN body will do the same for the sanctions on diamonds. The Liberian government has redoubled its efforts to meet the UN requirements for the removal of the sanctions, including establishing a Task Force to ensure full adherence to the Kimberley process. Yet, the Liberian government still falls short of meeting all requirements. Liberian authorities have failed to freeze individuals' assets, such as those of former President Charles Taylor. (Analyst)

Smugglers Move Diamonds Despite Ban (October 10, 2006)
Despite a UN embargo, brokers in Ghana and Mali trade millions worth of diamonds originating from mines in the rebel-held north of the Ivory Coast. Banned diamonds reach in this way the international market, a UN report said. Diamond smuggling provides a source of finance to rebels' activities threatening to breach the fragile peace in the Western African country. This report unveils serious flaws in the Kimberley process established to control the trade of blood diamonds, by means of a certification system for rough diamonds and national import/export standards. (Guardian)

Film Threatens to Take the Shine off Africa's Gem Trade (September 20, 2006)
The diamond industry has begun a US$15 million campaign to safeguard its lucrative Christmas trade from what it fears will be a negative publicity resulting from a forthcoming Hollywood film about the trade in African "conflict diamonds." The industry claims that the Kimberley Process has virtually eliminated conflict diamonds, which now make up less than one percent of those sold. Yet, conflicts diamonds fueled recent African civil wars, such as in the Ivory Coast. Some experts say the Kimberley Process lacks internal control. "There is lots of cross-border smuggling. The control systems just aren't strong enough." (Guardian)

An Architecture of Instability (December 2005)
The Liberian government and the UN Mission in Liberia have failed to reintegrate ex-combatants into the Liberian economy. As a result, ex-fighters have found jobs in the illegal mining and logging industries. According to a report by Global Witness, the upsurge in illegal diamond extraction and export, which are in violation of UN sanctions, could fuel a return to warlordism.

Diamond Development Initiative Begins (August 15, 2005)
Recognizing the shortcomings of the Kimberley Process, the Diamond Development Initiative (DDI) creates an integrated framework to address underlying problems of diamond-financed wars in Africa. The DDI, a cross-sector initiative that includes representatives from NGOs, donor communities and the diamond industry, could help solve "political, social and economic challenges" of conflict diamonds in Sierra Leone, Angola, the Democratic Republic of Congo and other African nations.

Angola: New Report Alleges Blood Still Stains Diamonds (March 10, 2005)
Although Angola's civil war ended in 2002 and the Security Council subsequently lifted sanctions on the country, its diamond industry still fosters violence and human rights abuses against Angolans and foreigners. A new report compiled by civil rights campaigner Rafael Marques and lawyer Rui Falcao de Campos finds "only a privileged few benefit from the region's diamond wealth." This elite secures its wealth through "murders, beatings and arbitrary detentions," leading the report's authors to call for a boycott of Angolan gems. (Integrated Regional Information Networks)

Diamonds Shine Brighter, But Remain Dull (February 24, 2005)
The Ottawa-based Partnership Africa Canada has released the second edition of its Diamond Industry Annual Review for Sierra Leone, which praises the increased transparency of the country's gold and diamonds department but warns that diamond trade earnings don't benefit the country's impoverished population. With the Revolutionary United Front no longer in control of the main mining areas, legal diamond exports have almost doubled. The report notes, however, that the improvements mainly result from external factors such as the introduction of the Kimberley process rather than internal curbs on diamond mining and smuggling. (Integrated Regional Information Networks)

Central Africa To Clean Up Diamond Trade (November 17, 2004)
Mining ministers from Angola, the Central African Republic, Democratic Republic of Congo, Congo Republic and Gabon signed a declaration setting up an organization to monitor the rough diamond trade in central Africa. The organization will be "a first step" towards a larger African diamond organization. (Sunday Times)

Diamonds Keep Botswana's Economy Sparkling (October 31, 2004)
Diamond earnings in Botswana make up 60 percent of government revenue and are the driving force behind the country's economy. Botswana houses the world's richest diamond mine, Jwaneng, which prides itself on "faithfully enforcing 'blood diamonds' regulations." As such, Jwaneng managers "take issue" with rights-groups that accuse the government and diamond industry of forcibly resettling people to make way for mining, and that raise concerns about worker rights and labor unrest. (Agence France Presse)

UN Ties Al Qaeda Figure to Diamonds (June 28, 2004)
The Wall Street Journal reports that al Qaeda surveyed potential diamond-trading operations in Liberia and acquired diamonds from war-torn Sierra Leone. UN war crimes prosecutors believe that conflict diamond trading in West Africa might have been a "central component of al Qaeda's finances."

Global Aid Needed to Make Diamond Trade Sparkle (March 19, 2004)
Despite the ongoing illegal diamond trade in Sierra Leone, a Canadian NGO has urged the international community to help the country convert "blood diamonds" into "development diamonds," the export of which can provide the country with revenue to invest in "health, education and other vital infrastructure." (Inter Press Service)

West 'Has Failed to Stop' Congo War Profiteering from War (March 17, 2004)
A British-based research organization accuses industrialized countries of failing to act against companies profiting from illegal activities, such as trading conflict diamonds, which exacerbated the war in Democratic Republic of Congo. The spokesperson of the organization argues that "most governments have been long on excuses, but short on action" in punishing the named companies. (Independent)

Dying for Diamonds (March 15, 2004)
In light of the continuing illegal diamond trade in many parts of Africa, the author urges state governments and end consumers to strictly observe any UN initiatives, such as the Kimberly Process, which are designed to prohibit conflict diamond sales. (Korea Times)

India's Diamond Trade Reveals Flawed Side (February 19, 2004)
The death of an Indian diamond trader in Angola has raised suspicions of an Indian link with conflict diamonds. Although the Indian diamond industry has asserted that India strictly observes the Kimberly Process, "there are good reasons to believe that some of these conflict diamonds, estimated to form about 4 percent of the global diamond trade, may well be sieving into India," says Asia Times

War Crimes Court Eyes 'Blood Diamond' Buyers (September 23, 2003)
The International Criminal Court could charge "blood diamond" buyers with complicity in war crimes and genocide. The Court holds third parties legally responsible, as much as "anyone who actually carried out those atrocities," marking a big step forward in stopping the spiral of conflict. (Reuters)

The New Diamond Age (September 11, 2003)
Two start-up companies utilize groundbreaking scientific technology to create diamonds. This article from Wired explores the possibility of diamond-based semiconductors and ponders the ramifications for the De Beers diamond cartel. Will consumers show interest in diamonds that are mass-produced but genuinely "conflict-free"?

Diamond Origin 'Can Be Determined' (July 25, 2003)
The BBC reports that Belgian scientists have uncovered a way to determine the source of each diamond to the mine from which it came. This scientific breakthrough has the potential to eliminate ‘conflict diamonds' from the legitimate diamond trade.

UN Council Ends Bans on Sierra Leone Diamonds (June 4, 2003)
The Security Council determined that Sierra Leone no longer threatens international peace and security by trading in conflict diamonds. A government-initiated certification plan and cooperation with external regulators ended a 3-year period of sanctions on the country. (Reuters)

Drug Gangs Go to London's Diamond Dealers for Cash (March 9, 2003)
Diamonds are fast replacing more traditional methods of money laundering. Besides being very easy to transport across borders, the diamond trade also represents one of the few remaining industries where large cash transactions can be carried out with complete anonymity. (Guardian)

"Soaked in Blood" (January 23, 2003)
Shortly after the Kimberley Process diamond certification scheme came into effect, Al-Ahram published this backgrounder about the initiatives of Global Witness and Partnership Africa Canada in exposing the links between diamonds and conflict in African states.