Solving the Problem

By: Matt Skabelund

Conflict diamonds have been a problem in West Africa for some time. Diamonds in West Africa come very easily; the countries are permeated with diamonds that have been both a blessing and a curse. More so a curse in recent years, with wars between different factions and groups ravishing the country and governments of the countries not doing much to stop the conflict diamonds but more to control the conflict diamonds for themselves. Though each situation is different and implications due to involvement have kept some countries from doing anything to help these war-ridden countries, steps have been taken to create a conflict-free diamond market.

The United Nations Security Council began attempting to stop the flow of conflict diamonds in the early 1990’s by imposing sanctions and embargoes on country of Angola and more specifically the National Union for the Total Independence of Angola(UNITA). The main embargo was on the imports of arms, in hope that it would end conflict in Angola. This was just the first of many resolutions established by the Security Council. After many embargoes and resolutions the Security Council established what is called a Monitoring Mechanism because of UNITA’s failure to comply with any of the resolutions the Council had set up. The Mechanism was a panel of experts that kept a close eye on the actions of the UNITA. As of today the UNITA has been reduced from a rebel group to a political party.

The United Nations Security Council also initiated similar embargoes and sanctions on the countries of Sierra Leone and eventually Liberia. Over the course of a decade the Security Council had placed sanctions and embargoes on three countries associated with conflict diamonds. This helped with the diamond trade but hasn’t eliminated them from the legitimate diamond market.

Although these embargoes were better than nothing, after a report from Global Witness about conflict diamonds, meetings began being held in Kimberley, South Africa about stopping the flow of conflict diamonds. In January of 2003, the Kimberley Process was launched. The Kimberley Process is an import-export documentation scheme in which participating governments to certify the origin of rough diamonds and put in place effective controls to prevent conflict stones from entering the supply chain. Although the Kimberley Process was thought to be able to stop the flow of conflict diamonds, diamonds supporting rebel groups are still getting into the market.

The smuggling of illegal diamonds is an issue that spans across many nations and governments; it affects different areas covering from Human Rights to effects of the global economy. Innocent people have cried and pleaded for help from the local government, their nation’s government and global leaders throughout the world. Unfortunately the response from most was indifferent at best. In a war claiming thousands and thousands of lives, it makes a person wonder why governments from other countries haven’t stepped in to help these ravished countries. The United Nations Security Council did step in, but many wonder if their sanctions and embargoes have done much. With the adoption of the Kimberley process many hoped that this would end the trade of illegal diamonds, though it has helped, corruption with government officials who have helped to initiate the Kimberley process continues to aid the trade of conflict diamonds. Only when the ethics and morals of people enforcing that process change will the end of conflict diamonds come. Until then African countries will continue to war-ridden with little help from outside countries mainly because of their interest in the diamond market. A sad thing when the worth of one diamond outweighs a human life.