What Are Blood Diamonds Used For?

Diamonds have been used by rebel groups to finance wars in Angola, Sierra Leone and Liberia.

Diamonds, whether used in jewelry or high-tech equipment, are extremely rare and valuable minerals. Although many diamonds are used for peaceful purposes, some stones have been used for malicious reasons, such as funding conflicts in Angola, Sierra Leone and Liberia in the late 1990s. The term "blood diamond" has become a regularly used term for diamonds used by rebel factions to finance war.

Diamonds

Diamonds are rare minerals found in the deepest depths of the Earth's crust. They are expelled to the surface during violent volcanic eruptions. Some estimates suggest that diamond samples used today could be as old as three billion years old. Diamonds are the strongest form of pure carbon and have a glossy, transparent appearance. They are extremely valuable because they are aesthetically beautiful, making them perfect for expensive jewelry, and are extremely durable. Their durability allows them to be used in a number of pieces of high-tech equipment.

Blood Diamonds and War

Despite their beauty and peaceful uses, some diamonds are extracted and sold for malicious purposes. Many guerrilla groups have used diamonds to fuel rebellions against recognized governments and fund genocides against various opposing ethnic groups. The terms "blood diamonds" and "conflict diamonds" have been developed to label these cases. Blood diamonds are difficult to track because they are often traded in neighboring countries. With the money received from the diamonds' sale, blood diamond traders buy military equipment and fund illegal activities.

Blood Diamonds in Sierra Leone

Most cases of blood diamond use have occurred in Africa. A guerilla group in Sierra Leone known as the Revolutionary United Front, or RUF, is one of the most well-known historical users of blood diamonds. The RUF fought a bloody eight-year civil war with the Government of Sierra Leone, the internationally recognized government of Sierra Leone. Luckily, the conflict between the two factions ended in July 1999 with the signing of the Lome Peace Agreement. Other blood diamond cases have been reported in Angola and Liberia.

Global Actions

The UN began regulating conflict diamonds with Resolution 1176, which targeted Angolan rebels.

Global groups were disturbed with the role blood diamonds played in Sierra Leone and Angola. The first case of global actions against blood diamonds was the passing of Resolution 1176 on June 24, 1998 by the United Nations. Essentially, it ended the trade of Angolan diamonds that were not owned by the government. Special economic sanctions were also enacted and targeted towards UNITA, the illegitimate rebel faction in the Angolan war. Diamonds have to have proper documentation to be sold on the global market. A similar law targeting Sierra Leone rebels was passed on July 5, 2000 by means of Resolution 1306. Blood diamond sanctions have been proposed for Liberia, but there is no official global law as of March 2011.

References

• American Museum of Natural History: The Nature of Diamonds
• The United Nations: Conflict Diamonds