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Author: Admin | 2025-04-28
AbstractThis chapter best condenses the central argument of this book by analysing the role of diamonds in the Sierra Leone civil conflict and in other African civil conflicts. Diamonds are described as being both the goal and the mode of exchange in the civil war, a state of affairs that was incited to a great degree by the former Liberian war lord and president, Charles Taylor, to ignite the war. It clarifies the terms ‘conflict diamonds,’ ‘blood diamonds’ and ‘illicit diamond trade.’ This chapter describes the loss of diamond revenue during the conflict. This section also elaborates on the material impact of these varying measures on the diamond trade, and highlights the complicity of Antwerp in the importation of illicit/smuggled/blood diamonds during the conflict. The Kimberley process certification scheme (KPCS) is introduced into the equation and the challenges associated with its effective implementation are also fleshed out. This chapter also reviews international and domestic efforts aimed at controlling these abuses, and argues in favour of reform of both Sierra Leone’s and the global diamond industry. This chapter then looks at some of the environmental challenges raised by diamond mining and concludes by strongly suggesting that the Botswana model of good governance and extractive governance should be looked to. Lastly, this chapter makes concrete suggestions about the specific tax regime that should be adopted in the EI. It also laments continued corruption and apathy within the global diamond industry and proposes some concrete measures that could yet be employed to combat these problems at an international level. Notes1.Paul Collier and Anke Hoeffler, ‘On Economic Causes of Civil War’ (1998) 50(4) Oxf. Econ. Pap. 563.2.This calculation appears to be based on the figures of causalities of ‘blood diamond’ conflicts; “According to National Geographic News, all of these conflicts combined have (…) resulted in the deaths of more than 4 million people”; Alia Hoyt, ‘How the African Diamond Trade Works’ (How Stuff Works, Undated) https://money.howstuffworks.com/african-diamond-trade2.htm accessed 10 January 2020.3.4.5.6.Reno, supra note 86. Also, refer to Chap. 5: ‘Sierra Leone’s Resource Curse: How the Abuse of Diamonds, Politics and Power Collapsed a Nation,’ Sect. 2.2: ‘Corruption, Autocracy, Kleptocracy and the Descent into Civil War,’ pp. 66–72.7.Reno, supra note 86, at 46.8.Reno, supra note 86, at 60.9.Davies, 8.10.Hirsch, supra note 85, at 27.11.12.Reno, Supra 8, at 30.13.14.Smith, Daniel A. “Corruption and State Politics in Sierra Leone.” Africa Today, vol. 44, no. 3, July-Sept. 1997, pp. 362+. Gale Academic OneFile, link.gale.com/apps/doc/A20271122/AONE? accessed 11 November 2019.15.Reno, supra note 86, at p. 4.16.Joseph M. Kargbo, ‘Chapter 11, The Mining Sector and Growth: Lesson for the Future’ in Omotunde E.G. Johnson (ed), Economic Challenges and Policy Issues in Early 21st Century Sierra Leone (International Growth Center, 2012) https://www.theigc.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/11.-Mining-Joseph-M.-Kargbo.pdf accessed
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