Political impact of blood diamonds in Angola
Though Angola had just gained independence from Portugal, the Popular Movement for the Liberation of Angola, the National Union for the Total Independence of Angola, and the National Liberation Front of Angola fought in a civil war from 1974 to 2001 for power. The National Union for the Total Independence of Angola, rejected the results of the first Angolan election in 1992. The UNITA, whose leader was Jonas Savimbi, sold blood diamonds (diamonds mined in dangerous war zones) to fund a of war against the government. The UN banned the purchasing of blood diamonds from Angola. But there was little, if any, enforcement by member states and UNITA's control of many of Angola's diamond producing areas allowed the movement to finance its operations with illegal diamonds. At one point, the report asserts, UNITA was the single largest producer of diamonds in Angola. The UNITA kept selling diamonds and in return the war in Angola and its government continued. In 1998 UNITA broke a peace agreement and returned to fighting the war.
Political Impact of blood diamonds in Liberia
From 1989 to 2003, Liberia was engaged in a civil war. Around 2000, Liberian president Charles G. Taylor, supporter of the Revolutionary United Front (RUF), was exchanging with its neighbor Sierra Leone with weapons and training in exchange for these “conflict diamonds.” As the civil war continued, the illegal trade of the diamonds increased majorly. Despite Liberia’s small diamond mines, the request of these diamonds needing to be exported throughout countries expanded rapidly. With Taylor being an aggressive supporter, he allowed many RUF forces to enter into regions of Liberia to add to the supply of weapons being used to fight against the different rebel groups. The Liberian government allowed these illegal trades of “blood diamonds”, despite the harm and danger of children fighting and searching for these diamonds because it helped improve the structure of the government and economy, making it strong and stable.
After Taylor decided to step down from power, and the world knew about these blood diamonds and the killings of children and adults that were taking place in Liberia and Sierra Leone, they decided to take action against the digging for diamonds. In March 2001, the UN security council put embargo acts on the weapons and diamonds that were being traded and sold to fuel the war. These embargoes sort of slowed to illegal trading process, but did not in fact end the war. The UN stated that if Liberia continued with the trade of the diamonds, other states will take action and do what’s necessary to stop the export. This ensured the Security Council that Liberia was not the dealer or “middle man” for the RUF and their receiving of diamonds. Despite these embargoes, weapons continued to enter the market, which was indeed supported and paid for by the diamond industry in LIberia. The Liberian government’s argument was that they needed the weapons paid by the diamonds to protect themselves against various rebel groups crossing the border and attacking their region.
Today, Liberia remains under the UN embargo and is assisted by international agencies. Liberia is currently developing a diamond monitoring system that follows the Kimberley Process standards. This process was set up to prevent the trade of diamonds that fund conflict in countries. The people in this country have only known democracy, unlike many other African nations. When Liberia was in a time of need and war, they reached out to the United States. Their disturbing history of exporting these blood diamonds have created a more stable government for Liberia, even though the mining of these diamonds are still taking place.
After Taylor decided to step down from power, and the world knew about these blood diamonds and the killings of children and adults that were taking place in Liberia and Sierra Leone, they decided to take action against the digging for diamonds. In March 2001, the UN security council put embargo acts on the weapons and diamonds that were being traded and sold to fuel the war. These embargoes sort of slowed to illegal trading process, but did not in fact end the war. The UN stated that if Liberia continued with the trade of the diamonds, other states will take action and do what’s necessary to stop the export. This ensured the Security Council that Liberia was not the dealer or “middle man” for the RUF and their receiving of diamonds. Despite these embargoes, weapons continued to enter the market, which was indeed supported and paid for by the diamond industry in LIberia. The Liberian government’s argument was that they needed the weapons paid by the diamonds to protect themselves against various rebel groups crossing the border and attacking their region.
Today, Liberia remains under the UN embargo and is assisted by international agencies. Liberia is currently developing a diamond monitoring system that follows the Kimberley Process standards. This process was set up to prevent the trade of diamonds that fund conflict in countries. The people in this country have only known democracy, unlike many other African nations. When Liberia was in a time of need and war, they reached out to the United States. Their disturbing history of exporting these blood diamonds have created a more stable government for Liberia, even though the mining of these diamonds are still taking place.