Diamond Trade within Sierra Leone

Diamond trading is a very common and regular thing that occurs in Sierra Leone. When you go down to tescos to buy your groceries, chances are that someone in Sierra Leone is going down to the local shops to sell of some of the diamonds they have found or mined.

This is an example of how people casually buy and sell diamonds in local buildings such as offices and supermarkerts

Sierra Leone In The Media

The 2006 Hollywood blockbuster movie "Blood Diamond" starring Leonardo DiCaprio was based on the crises that were taking place in Sierra Leone. The basics of this movie were initially true and full of correct facts, although like everything in Hollywood it was greatly dramatised.

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0450259/

Sierra Leone Diamond History

 The first ever diamond was found in Sierra Leone is the 1930's. Since then the value for diamonds has increased dramatically, hence the reason for the civil war in Sierra Leone. Everybody wants to get their hands on as many diamonds as possible to grab themself some easy cash. Even today, diamonds from Sierra Leone are known as the best quality and most valuable, this is why civil conflict still continues today. The high value of these diamonds cause outside parties to come to Sierra Leone and begin their own mining, processing and cutting of diamonds. Sometimes this would involve removing the locals from their positions, and this would often be through violent means. This led to even more uproar and it was soon thought that a war would break out between Lebanon and Sierra Leone, as many Lebanese men would make their way to Sierra Leone to seek themselves some diamonds. This issue has now fortunately been resolved by the United Nations

Illegal Diamond Trade Funds War In Sierra Leone

Diamonds are one of the main causes for the civil war that is currently taking place in Sierra Leone, this war has claimed nearly seventy five thousand lives. Diamonds are used as a form of cash to purchase illegal arms and weapons to use in war. This type of diamond trade is completely illegal under UN legislation. Diamonds are so common in Sierra Leone that it is often used as a form of cash to purchase items and it is usually ignored by local authorities, but when the diamonds are used to purchase illegal goods such as guns, then the country faces bigger problems. Sierra Leone lose a huge amount of money on this illegal diamond trading, if they were to sell the diamonds they mined instead of swapping them for guns they would be far better off, so would their economy and death rate.





Thanks for reading.

Introduction

Hi, Elliott here. Welcome to my blog! Over the coming four weeks i shall be updating and informing you on the diamond trade that takes place on the west coast of Africa in a small country known as Sierre Leone. Stay posted for more information,

Thats all for now
~Elliott