Sierra Leone: From ‘blood diamonds’ to stones of hope? – Revisited
“Blood diamonds” became infamous for funding the brutal civil war in Sierra Leone. Beginning 25 years ago, the Kimberley Process aimed to put an end to this illegal trade. Accused of complicity in the conflict, the diamond industry has since sought to clean up its image, emphasising an ethical shift. But a quarter of a century on, have the former “blood diamonds” truly become synonymous with development? FRANCE 24’s Sarah Sakho and Simon Martin report.
Between 1991 and 2002, the civil war in Sierra Leone claimed more than 120,000 lives and left thousands of civilians mutilated. It also became synonymous with “blood diamonds”. A deadly battle for control of the country’s diamond mines gave rise to a parallel economy supported by major international firms. This illegal trade is estimated to have brought in up to $125 million a year, much of it used to fund the fighting.
Thanks to Hollywood, people became aware of the scandal through the 2006 film “Blood Diamond” starring Leonardo DiCaprio. The exposure forced the global diamond industry, which came under deep scrutiny, to change its rules in an attempt to restore its image.
The Kimberley Process, a system to trace diamonds’ origin
Twenty-five years ago, the Kimberley Process began: a series of negotiations through which the major diamond-producing countries and international companies established a system to trace the origin of the precious stones and prevent history from repeating itself.
A quarter of a century later, the industry insists it has changed, with claims of ethical trade and the development of local communities. But in the Kono district of Sierra Leone, the epicentre of the former “blood diamond” trade, the industry’s promises remain far from being fully realised.
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