Blood Diamonds In Africa

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Blood Diamonds in Africa

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BLOOD DIAMONDS IN AFRICA 2

Blood Diamonds in Africa

Introduction

The discovery of diamonds in a country was supposed to be a symbol of love, economic

and sociological growth. However, for many African countries, these precious stones have been

a curse rather than a blessing. The diamonds have fueled several conflicts in over seven countries

leading to civil wars, worker exploitation, and human suffering of unspeakable proportions

(Cleveland, 2014). These diamonds are known as blood or conflict diamonds. They are usually

produced in areas controlled by rebels, anti-government insurgencies or tyrants who mine the

precious stones and sell them to the international markets making huge profits that finance their

activities (Marchuk, 2009). They purchase various weapons and fund the military actions. As a

result, these diamonds have fueled civil wars in Sierra Leone, Liberia, Angola and the

Democratic Republic of Congo (Cleveland, 2014). This paper describes the history of blood

diamonds in Africa using Todd Cleveland’s book, “The Stones of Contention: A History 0f

Africa’s Diamonds.”

Africa forms the greatest supplier of diamonds in the world. However, the discovery of

the precious stones in Africa ushered an era of unprecedented greed in which monopolistic

power arose to fuel conflicts in several African countries. At first, the discovery of diamonds in

Kimberly was in the late 1860s was a richness that awoke the area (Cleveland, 2014)). This led

to a sudden influx of foreigners and international capital. However, the inception of

discriminatory legislation and the combination of individual claims into larger corporations

pushed Africans to the margin eventually making them manual laborers in the mine fields.

Additionally, authoritarian dictatorship emerged to utilize the mineral resources and exploited

the indigenous workforce to mine the diamonds. The birth of the company De-Beers in South

BLOOD DIAMONDS IN AFRICA 3

Africa revolutionized the diamond industry. It enacted harsh labor policies exposing the workers

to violent and inhuman conditions leading to several deaths (Marchuk, 2009).

Mining was considered havoc as it resulted in the local population providing forced to

work with remuneration of low wages, in extremely dangerous and filthy environments

(Marchuk, 2009). The result of such working conditions was death related to respiratory tract

infections, mine fires, and even floods. In some countries such as Sierra Leone, Angola, and the

Democratic Republic of Congo, the money obtained from such diamonds bolstered oppressive

governments and rebels leading to bloodshed in the 1990s (Cleveland, 2014). Additionally,

various groups fought to control the diamond-rich territories with tragic results massive violation

of human rights, loss of lives and bloodshed thus the name blood diamonds. The civil war of

2013 in the Central African Republic saw two opposing sides fight to control the diamond

resources. In Angola’s extended war the war lasted for a longer period because the diamond

resources could sustain many fighting groups (Cleveland, 2014). This led to deaths of thousands,

use of children as soldiers, massive displacement of people, physical and emotional scars that

last to date. More recently, Charles Taylor from Liberia and Robert Mugabe used the diamonds

to enrich themselves and suppress their enemies (Marchuk, 2009).

However, Cleveland (2014) challenges the negative associations of conflict diamonds

with Africa in chapter 8 of his book using countries such as Namibia and Botswana. These

countries have used the diamonds to create stable states leading the instantaneous growth of the

economy. The diamonds in these countries and mined and sold under the supervision of the

government generating significant revenues to fund infrastructure projects and provide essential

services such as healthcare and education to the public. As a result, Cleveland (2014) suggests

that “the proper utilization of diamonds as with these countries offers hope to the African nations

BLOOD DIAMONDS IN AFRICA 4

that are still struggling to manage their diamond resources” (18). This will see the elimination of

blood diamonds from the face of African countries thus restore livelihoods and improve the

standards of living.

Also, the birth of the Kimberley certification process in the year 2003 is expected to bring

an end to the supply of blood diamonds in the world. The procedure entails an international

diamond certificate award scheme as an attempt of the industry to fight the trade of blood

diamonds. The process placed a ban on diamonds from rebel activities and war-torn countries. It

has improved corporate responsibility by stemming the supply of conflict diamonds in the

international markets. As a result of the dwindled market, the rebels are expected to stop their

activities due to lack of adequate finances. Therefore, Cleveland (2014) suggests that “the

Kimberly process is bound to ensure that diamonds are poised to play a decisive role in shaping

the future of African countries with the resource” (18). However, the Kimberley process fails to

address the atrocities committed against locals by such insurgents. When the workers suffer in

the hands of the mining companies, the process still certified these diamonds for sale in the

international market.

Conclusion

In conclusion, the African diamonds were real stones of contention as all the parties

involved- both locals and foreigners recognized their importance and fought to control them.

This resulted in the struggle against the oppression of the workers, deaths and untold bloodshed

in a by financing tyrants and rebel activities. However, the Kimberly process should help to turn

the precious diamond resources in Africa into wealth leading to economic growth and

development.

BLOOD DIAMONDS IN AFRICA 5

References

Cleveland, T. (2014). Stones of Contention: A History of Africa’s Diamonds (1st ed., pp. 15-

188). Ohio: Ohio University Press.

Marchuk, I. (2009). Confronting Blood Diamonds in Sierra Leone: The Trial of Charles Taylor.

Yale Journal Of International Affairs, 89-97. Retrieved from http://Confronting Blood

Diamonds in Sierra Leone: The Trial of Charles Taylor

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