Illicit diamonds: Africa's curse

UN Chronicle, Sept-Nov, 2004 by Rasna Warah

In 2001, shortly after the 11 September attacks in New York and Washington, D.C., the Washington Post found another link in this most secretive and highly lucrative trade--that of international terrorists. In an article published on 2 November 2001, war correspondent Douglas Farah stated that the Al Qaeda network "reaped millions of dollars in the past three years from the illicit sale of diamonds mined by rebels in Sierra Leone" and that three senior Al Qaeda operatives had visited Sierra Leone at different times in 1998 and later. He further claimed that the West African Shi'ite Lebanese community was sympathetic to Hezbollah and often served as a link between the RUF rebels and Al Qaeda. However, according to Gberie, much of the evidence linking West Africa's Lebanese community to global terror networks is largely "anecdotal and circumstantial".

In the last few years, however, the illicit diamond trade has come under scrutiny from many quarters, which makes it much more difficult for middlemen and smugglers to operate. Since 1999, PAC has undertaken a programme of policy research, education and advocacy to ensure that the international diamond industry operates legally, openly and for the primary benefit of the countries where the diamonds originate. It has also extensively published reports that have uncovered the secret dealings and James Bond-style manoeuvres of the middlemen and smugglers in the industry who operate often with the full knowledge and approval of Governments (or rebel movements), and act as conduits for diamonds smuggled from neighbouring countries.

In May 2000, an international certification process for rough diamonds, known as the Kimberley Process, was initiated by the Government of South Africa. Concerned about how diamond-fuelled wars in Angola, Sierra Leone and the Democratic Republic of the Congo might affect the legitimate trade in other diamond-producing countries, more than 35 nations have been meeting on a regular basis to develop the system, which was established in 2003.

In Sierra Leone, the diamond certification system was instituted in October 2000, four months after the UN Security Council passed a resolution that banned diamond exports until a certification system was set up. In the twelve months after the system was introduced, legal exports rose from $1.3 million to $25.9 million worth of diamonds. However, PAC believes that many of the better quality diamonds are still being smuggled and are not going through the official certification system. In other words, the illicit diamond trade continues to operate through informal agreements that are sealed with a nod, a wink and no paper trail.

Rasna Warah, a freelance writer based in Nairobi, is a Board member of the East Africa Chapter of the Society for International Development.

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