Speech relating to blood diamonds and the diamond trade in Africa,

1. Diamond Wars in Africa:
Sierra Leone
Katie Crain

3. A Diamond is Forever…

4. …So are the devastating consequences
of Blood Diamonds.

5. What is a Conflict Diamond?

6. Conflict Diamonds in the African
Nations
• Angola
• Botswana*
• Central African Republic
• Democratic Republic of
Congo
• Ivory Coast
• Liberia
• Namibia*
• Sierra Leone
• South Africa*
• Tanzania*
* Diamonds have never been used to fund conflict.

7. The Diamond Pipeline:
From the Mine to the Customer
• In 1998 the diamond industry produced 115
million carats of rough diamonds.
• This was converted into 67.1 million pieces of
jewelry.

8. The Significance of
Conflict Diamonds
• Conflict diamonds have fueled an 11 year war in
Sierra Leone.
• During the war, about 20% of diamonds sold were
from conflict.

9. RUF and the War in Sierra Leone
1991-1999
• Revolutionary United Front (RUF) launched
war in 1991 to overthrow the government.
• In 1992, RUF was successful in their mission.
• However, the attacks continued.

10. Hope for the Sierra Leonean People
• April 1996- Presidential and
Parliamentary elections were
held in hopes that a civilian
government would reconcile
issues with RUF.
• Ahmad TejanKabbah was elected
President.
• Conflict continued through
elections as RUF refused to
acknowledge the new powers.
– The Armed Forces Revolutionary
Council overthrew Kabbah on May
25,1997.

11. The Conflict Continues...
• Kabbah returns to power in March 1998 with
the help of Nigerian forces.
• RUF was then offered a peace agreement
from Kabbah.
• RUF accepted but refused to comply.
• In 1999, a “re-charged” RUF emerged.

12. Revolutionary United Front
RUF
-12 year old SaiduKargbo was
captured by the rebels when he was 6.
“No more slaves, no
more masters. Power and
wealth to the people.”

13. RUF Emerges
• 3 founders
• Unique political views: RUF did not associate itself with any
one in particular.
• Promised a “bright future”
• Goals: end economic hardship and create a multiparty
government
• RUF became ruthless and cruel in order to keep the power of
Sierra Leone.

14. RUF Atrocities
• Child soldiers
• Mutilation and
amputation
• Massacres
• Murder
• Rape
"Diamonds might have been
our blessing, but they have
turned out to be our worst
curse,"-Desmond Luke

15. “The Future is in your Hands.”
-1996 Elections
But without hands, you have no future.

16. Human Impacts
• From 1991-2001, approximately 70,000 people had been
killed.
• 55% of the population live in conflict areas.
• Over 1,800 amputees
• 470,000 refugees
• Fled to Guinea and Liberia

17. Hope for Sierra Leone
1999-2005
• The UN intervened in •In 2004, war crime
1999 and a ceasefire trials began and the
is granted to first local elections in
Freetown. over three years were
• Rebels again overtake held.
Freetown in 2000. •December 2005, the
• In 2001, rebels begin very last UN troops
to disarm leave.
• January 2002, war is
declared over.

18. Solutions
• The key is for the diamond trade and governments to
communicate.
• The Kimberley Process
• The Clean Diamond Trade Act

19. The Kimberley Process
• Set up and ratified by the members of the UN
• Created the Kimberley Process Certification Scheme
• As of 2009, there were 75 countries involved.
• Internal certification of all diamonds
• Import/ Export certification
• Governments must certify the origin of rough diamonds.

20. The Role of the United States
• The U.S. purchases 65% of the world diamond
supply.
• The U.S. must take the lead in to end the trade
of conflict diamonds.
“We must protect the American purchases of
love from the subsidies of terror,”
Rory E. Anderson

22. Bibliography
Online Articles:
“Background Note: Sierra Leone.” Bureau of African Affairs. U.S. Department of State.
1 Aug 2011. Web. 15 Sept 2011.
“In Sierra Leone: Darkness, Not Diamonds’ Dazzle.” Freetown Journal. New York
Times. 9 Oct 1995. Web. 14 Sept 2011.
“Timeline: Sierra Leone.” BBC News. BBC News, 7 May 2011. Web. 14 Sept 2011.
Speech:
Anderson, Rory E. “Conflict Diamonds: Funding Conflict, Fueling Change.” U.S.
Department of State. 10 Oct 2001. World Vision. Web. 15 Sept 2011.
Documentary:
Reid, Dominic Cunningham, narr. Diamonds of War: Africa’s Blood Diamonds. National
Geographic, 2003. DVD.
Internet :
“Background.” UNAMSIL: United Nations mission in Sierra Leone. 2005.
http://www.un.org/en/peacekeeping/missions/past/unamsil/background.html , Web. 15 Sept 2011.
“Diamond Producing Countries in Africa: Fact Sheet.” World Diamond Council.
Diamondfacts.org, Web. 15 Sept 2011.
“The Kimberley Process.” SimpleFolio. http://blooddiamonds.org/the-kimberley-process.
Web. 15 Sept 2011.