The UN Security Council on Wednesday extended for another six months the global ban on the direct and indirect importation of all rough diamonds from Sierra Leone. However, rough diamonds under the control of the Sierra Leonean government would continue to be exempt under the certificate of origin regime started in July 2000.
Wednesday’s resolution commended the ongoing efforts by interested countries, diamond industry and non-governmental organisations to break the link between illicit trade in rough diamonds and armed conflict.
The Council, a statement said, was concerned at the current volume of illicit trade in diamonds and its potential negative impact on the fragile situation in Sierra Leone and other neighbouring countries such as Liberia.
The resolution also emphasised the importance of the Sierra Leonean government continuing its efforts to extend its authority throughout the country, including the diamond producing areas.
Last year, the council had emphasised that the certification scheme was “an essential step in curbing the flow of illicit diamonds out of Sierra Leone” and had welcomed reports indicating that the plan was having a positive effect. “This was clear from the fact there has been an increase in the quantity of diamonds passing through the government’s hands,” the Council had said.
The Council imposed an 18-month ban on the trade in uncertified rough diamonds from Sierra Leone in July 1999 in a bid to stop their sale from funding the Revolutionary United Front (RUF) rebellion.
It had expressed concern at the role played by the illicit trade in diamonds in fuelling the decade-long conflict in Sierra Leone and at reports that the gems transited through neighbouring countries, including Liberia, and had asked all states to prohibit the direct or indirect import of such diamonds into their territory.
It had however exempted from the prohibition the import of rough diamonds whose origin was certified by the Government of Sierra Leone, and had called upon the diamond industry to cooperate with the ban.
The ban was reviewed in July 2000 and extended for another period of 18 months. In July 2001 it welcomed the progress in preventing the illegal trade in diamonds from Sierra Leone.
In December 2001 it again extended the ban for 11 months, but the decision took effect from 5 January 2002. It had affirmed that at the end of the 11 months and in addition to a six-monthly review, it would appraise the situation in Sierra Leone. These 11 months ended this week and the Council once again has extended the ban by six months.
The decade-long conflict that pitted RUF against the government has since ended and the general elections were held in May this year. The RUF has since been transformed into a political party. – Irin