Fafo-report 377

Ian Smillie

Dirty Diamonds

Armed Conflict and the Trade in Rough Diamonds

ISBN 82-7422-360-8
2002 68 p

Web edition (pdf 276K) * More publications on this subject

Economies of Conflict: Private Sector Activity in Armed Conflict

Programme for International Co-operation and Conflict Resolution

In Angola, Sierra Leone and the Democratic Republic of Congo, diamonds have helped sustain armed conflicts that have killed almost one million people in just over a decade. The recent rise to prominence of 'conflict diamonds' poses a challenge not just to the diamond industry, but also to governments, multilateral institutions and non-governmental organisations working to end these wars. Dirty Diamonds looks at this recent experience, explores how the trade in rough diamonds helps sustain armed conflict and assesses the various solutions now being debated. The report was commissioned by PICCR as part of the Economies of Conflict research project, which examines the links between certain private sector activity and armed conflict.

Financial support for Economies of Conflict has been provided by the Government of Norway.

Contents

Executive Summary

1 Introduction

2 Conflict Diamonds

3 The International Diamond Trade and Armed Conflict
3.1 The Myth of Scarcity
3.2 Value and Price: De Beers
3.3 Accessibility
3.4 Secrecy
3.5 Portability and Lack of Government Control
3.6 Lack of Statistical Data

4 Illicit Diamonds as a Cover for Conflict Diamonds

5 Efforts to Curb the Problem
National Controls
The United Nations
Industry
The Clean Diamond Act
The Kimberley Process
The EC Wrinkle
The WTO Conundrum

6 Conclusions, Lessons and Recommendations
6.1 Analytical Considerations
6.2 Lessons for Campaigners
6.3 Recommendations

About the Author
About Fafo and PICCR
Annex 1 Major Events in the Campaign on Conflict Diamonds