Conflict diamonds, often called blood diamonds, are rough diamonds sold by rebel movements or their allies to pay for war against legitimate governments. The term grew out of civil wars in Sierra Leone, Angola, Liberia and the Democratic Republic of Congo in the 1990s. In response, governments, industry and campaign groups set up the Kimberley Process certification scheme, launched in 2003. The scheme reduced the trade in rough from rebel-held areas, but critics argue its definition is too narrow.
The definition
The United Nations and the Kimberley Process define conflict diamonds as rough diamonds used by rebel movements or their allies to finance conflict aimed at undermining legitimate governments. That definition focuses on rebel groups. It does not cover diamonds linked to abuses by governments, security forces or private companies, which is one of the main criticisms of the scheme.
Alluvial diamonds are central to the story. They lie in river gravels that can be dug with simple tools across wide areas, so armed groups could control and sell them without building a large mine. See how diamonds are mined for the difference between alluvial and pipe mining.
Sierra Leone
Sierra Leone's civil war ran from 1991 to 2002. The Revolutionary United Front (RUF) seized the eastern diamond fields, including the Kono district, and used diamond sales to buy weapons. The war was marked by widespread atrocities against civilians, including mutilations. Many diamonds were smuggled out through neighboring Liberia.
The UN imposed an embargo on rough diamond exports from Sierra Leone not certified by the government in 2000. The war ended in 2002, and Sierra Leone later rebuilt a certified export system.
Angola
In Angola, the rebel movement UNITA controlled major alluvial diamond areas during the long civil war that followed independence in 1975. Diamond sales funded UNITA through the 1990s. The UN Security Council imposed sanctions on diamonds from UNITA-held areas in 1998. The war ended in 2002 after the death of UNITA's leader, Jonas Savimbi. See diamond mines of Angola.
Liberia
Liberia's role was mostly as a conduit. Under Charles Taylor, the country exported far more diamonds than its own deposits could produce, much of it smuggled from Sierra Leone's RUF areas. The UN placed an embargo on Liberian rough diamonds in 2001 and lifted it in April 2007, after the end of Liberia's civil war. Liberia joined the Kimberley Process the following month. Charles Taylor was later convicted by the Special Court for Sierra Leone for aiding and abetting war crimes in that country. See diamond mines of Liberia.
Democratic Republic of Congo
The DRC has large alluvial and kimberlite diamond resources. During the wars of 1996 to 2003, armed groups and foreign forces fought over mineral-rich regions, and diamonds were among the resources that financed fighting. The country remains a major producer, much of it from artisanal digging, and conditions in the diamond areas have been a continuing concern for human rights groups.
The Kimberley Process
Southern African diamond-producing countries met in Kimberley, South Africa, in 2000 to discuss the problem. Talks among governments, industry and civil society groups led to the Kimberley Process Certification Scheme, which took effect in 2003.
Under the scheme:
- Each shipment of rough diamonds crossing a border must travel in a tamper-resistant container with a government-issued Kimberley Process certificate.
- Member countries may trade rough only with other members.
- Members must set up national controls and laws to track rough from mine to export.
- Members report production and trade statistics.
Participants include most diamond-producing, trading and cutting countries, with the European Union counted as one participant. The diamond industry added a voluntary System of Warranties, under which sellers state on invoices that their diamonds come from Kimberley-compliant sources.
Limits of the scheme
The Kimberley Process has drawn steady criticism. Common points include:
- The definition covers only rebel-funded conflict, not abuses by governments or companies.
- It applies only to rough diamonds. Once cut, a stone carries no certificate.
- Mixing of parcels at trading hubs makes it hard to trace individual stones.
- Decisions require consensus, so one member can block action.
- Enforcement depends on national governments, whose controls vary.
Some campaign groups that helped found the scheme later left it, arguing that it had failed to address these problems.
The Marange controversy
Diamonds were found in the Marange area of eastern Zimbabwe in the mid-2000s. In 2008, security forces took control of the fields, and human rights organizations reported killings and abuses of artisanal miners. Because the abuses involved state forces and not rebels, they fell outside the Kimberley definition. The Kimberley Process restricted Marange exports for a period, then allowed them to resume under monitoring in 2011. The case became the main example cited by critics who want the definition widened.
How buyers can ask about origin
A finished diamond almost never comes with mine-level history, but buyers can still ask useful questions.
- Ask the seller whether the diamond comes from a supplier that follows the Kimberley Process and the System of Warranties.
- Ask whether the seller can name the country of origin or offer a traceability program.
- Ask about the seller's own sourcing policy, and whether it goes beyond the Kimberley minimum.
- For a larger stone, ask whether a grading report includes origin information. Some labs offer origin services for certain stones.
Some buyers choose diamonds from countries with well-documented mine-to-market systems, recycled diamonds from older jewelry, or lab-grown diamonds. The diamond pipeline page explains how stones move between owners, which is why origin is often hard to confirm, and the history of the diamond trade gives wider context.
Frequently asked questions
Are conflict diamonds still sold today?
The Kimberley Process greatly reduced trade in diamonds from rebel-held areas. Critics say diamonds tied to other abuses still reach the market because the definition is narrow.
Does the Kimberley Process cover polished diamonds?
No. Its certificates apply to rough diamond shipments between member countries. Polished stones and jewelry rely on seller warranties and policies.
What is a blood diamond?
It is a popular term for a conflict diamond, a rough diamond sold to fund a rebel war against a legitimate government.
How can I avoid buying a conflict diamond?
Buy from a seller who follows the Kimberley Process and the System of Warranties, ask about origin and sourcing policy, and consider stones with documented origin.