| Diamonds and the continuous perpetration | | | | order for the measures to be effective. |
| of war and violence in the countries of | | | | From 2000 until last year, the UN has |
| Africa have been involved in a long and | | | | carried out many studies and imposed |
| arduous cycle over so many years. The | | | | sanctions on individual countries and |
| story is basically the same for many | | | | rebel groups involved in the mining and |
| different countries. Rebel factions | | | | trading of blood diamonds and diamond |
| launch wars against the government. To | | | | wars. Key countries which have had |
| fund their activities, their main action | | | | sanctions brought upon them are Angola, |
| is to take control of the diamond rich | | | | Sierra Leone, Liberia, and the Ivory |
| areas in their country and force the | | | | Coast for their involvement in diamond |
| people to mine diamonds for them, hence | | | | wars. Sanctions came in the form of arms |
| the term diamond war. The rough diamonds | | | | embargoes, travel, and financial |
| are then smuggled out to other countries | | | | restrictions especially for known |
| and sold to the world market. In the | | | | leaders of the rebel groups. The UN has |
| midst of this struggle, it is the common | | | | also come up with a monitoring mechanism |
| people who suffer. They are the ones | | | | for the countries involved. This |
| caught in between the cycle of violence. | | | | monitoring mechanism aims to address the |
| Though this has been the reality, for | | | | traffic of diamonds as well as arms - |
| over a decade, the international | | | | diamonds going out of the said countries |
| community was unable, or unwilling, to | | | | and arms coming in from Eastern European |
| do anything about it. | | | | countries. |
| Diamond War Recognition | | | | Diamonds Wars Continue |
| It was only in December 1, 2000 that the | | | | Despite the continuing efforts of the UN |
| United Nations came up with a resolution | | | | to curb this illicit trade, reports show |
| to deal with the situation. Finally, the | | | | that the mining of blood diamonds still |
| suffering of the African people became | | | | occur. This is especially true for the |
| too much to ignore. The UN formally | | | | countries with rebel controlled areas. |
| recognized the role that blood diamonds | | | | Somehow, blood diamonds still find a |
| play in fuelling the wars and conflicts | | | | way out of these countries and into the |
| in Africa and decided to take some | | | | world market. Somehow, arms still find |
| measures in order to put a stop to the | | | | their way into the rebels'' hands. As |
| vicious activities there. | | | | the UN itself stated, everyone must |
| In the UN General Assembly resolution, | | | | participate and be vigilant in this |
| it was made clear that sanctions were | | | | fight against conflict diamonds. From |
| needed in order for the illegal mining | | | | the international diamond market, to the |
| and trading of diamonds to stop. The | | | | local officials'' everyone must give his |
| idea was that if only legitimate | | | | two cents worth in order for real |
| diamonds were mined and sold, it would | | | | progress to be made. Until that happens |
| cut off the funds of the rebels and thus | | | | we must live with the reality that |
| contribute to peace and ultimately, | | | | everyday, people and children are being |
| development. The UN asserts that | | | | abused, maimed, and killed in the name |
| everyone involved must participate in | | | | of blood diamonds. |