Blood Diamonds of Sierra Leone

Summary

Sierra Leone, located on Africa's western coast, is one of the poorest countries, with an average income of just $220 a year. Despite its economic struggles, the country is rich in natural resources, including diamonds worth around $200 per carat. These diamonds should have brought prosperity, but instead fueled chaos. From 1991 to 2001, a brutal civil war, largely financed by diamonds, devastated the country. The Revolutionary United Front, claiming to fight for democracy, used diamonds to fund their efforts, leading to the deaths of 75,000 people and the displacement of 2 million citizens.

Takeaways

• 😀 Sierra Leone is one of the poorest nations on Earth, ranked second to last on the United Nations human development index.
• 😀 The average income of Sierra Leone citizens is just $220 per year.
• 😀 Despite its poverty, Sierra Leone is rich in natural resources, including tropical forests and valuable diamonds.
• 😀 Sierra Leone's diamonds are valued at around $200 per carat, which is higher than most other diamonds.
• 😀 Diamond dealers say Sierra Leone diamonds are special due to their unique light and color.
• 😀 The discovery of diamonds in Sierra Leone should have brought wealth, but it instead led to chaos and conflict.
• 😀 From 1991 to 2001, Sierra Leone was engulfed in a brutal civil war between the government and the Revolutionary United Front (RUF).
• 😀 The civil war in Sierra Leone was partly funded by diamonds, which were used to purchase weapons for the conflict.
• 😀 The RUF claimed to be fighting for democracy but instead targeted civilians, causing immense suffering.
• 😀 The war resulted in an estimated 75,000 deaths and the displacement of 2 million people, about half the population.

Q & A

What is Sierra Leone's rank on the United Nations human development index?

Sierra Leone is ranked second to last on the United Nations human development index, making it one of the poorest nations on Earth.

What is the average income of citizens in Sierra Leone?

The average income of citizens in Sierra Leone is about $220 per year.

What natural resources is Sierra Leone rich in?

Sierra Leone is rich in natural resources, including verdant tropical forests and a bounty of valuable gems, especially diamonds.

How valuable are Sierra Leone's diamonds compared to other diamonds?

Sierra Leone's diamonds are valued at about $200 per carat on average, which is higher than diamonds from many other regions.

What makes Sierra Leone's diamonds unique?

Sierra Leone's diamonds are considered special due to their unique light and color, which distinguishes them from diamonds found elsewhere.

Why did the discovery of diamonds not bring prosperity to Sierra Leone?

While the discovery of diamonds could have brought wealth, it instead contributed to chaos. The wealth from diamonds fueled conflict and violence, rather than benefiting the people.

How did Sierra Leone's diamond resources contribute to the civil war?

During the Sierra Leone civil war (1991-2001), the Revolutionary United Front (RUF) funded their rebellion using diamonds, leading to a brutal war that caused immense suffering.

What was the reason the Revolutionary United Front (RUF) gave for their rebellion?

The RUF claimed they were fighting for democracy, but their actions, including attacking civilians and using diamonds to fund their war, contradicted their stated purpose.

What were some of the consequences of the civil war in Sierra Leone?

The civil war in Sierra Leone resulted in an estimated 75,000 deaths and the displacement of about 2 million people, nearly half the country's population.

How long did the civil war in Sierra Leone last?

The civil war in Sierra Leone lasted for a decade, from 1991 to 2001, and was marked by brutal violence and human rights abuses.