No sparkle in Sierra Leone diamond town

Summary

In Sierra Leone, artisanal diamond miners, including 27-year-old CE, face grueling, low-paying work with diminishing rewards as surface diamonds run dry. Despite the region's painful past during the civil war, where blood diamonds fueled conflict, the diamond industry remains vital. Kidu Holdings, a mining company, provides some infrastructure but little economic relief to the impoverished communities. With exhausted resources and no employment opportunities, former child soldiers and miners are left with uncertain futures. Amid global demand, local miners continue their backbreaking work, struggling for a chance at a better life.

Takeaways

• 😀 Sierra Leone's artisanal diamond miners face long, grueling days with low pay and limited success, often working in harsh conditions without finding diamonds for weeks.
• 😀 The supply of surface diamonds in Sierra Leone is diminishing, leaving miners worried about their future as they struggle to make ends meet.
• 😀 Sierra Leone's mining communities, particularly in the east, are still suffering the legacy of the civil war, where local miners were forced into labor for 'blood diamonds' smuggled for weapons.
• 😀 Despite the end of the war a decade ago, diamonds remain the primary industry in the region, but many miners still live in poverty with little benefit from the wealth they extract.
• 😀 Koidu Holdings, a mining company, operates large-scale diamond pits and processes the gems, providing a much-needed source of employment and infrastructure like schools and clinics.
• 😀 The new law requiring mining firms to donate 1% of their annual turnover to development projects has brought some improvements but has not significantly impacted the majority of the impoverished local population.
• 😀 In Koidu, where the diamonds are traded, development is slow, and mining communities remain largely neglected, with little to show for the wealth extracted from their land.
• 😀 Former child soldiers and rebel commanders, who were once forced into labor during the war, continue to work in the diamond mines, facing little hope of improving their situation.
• 😀 The diamond-rich mines are running out of resources, and without a sustainable industry or alternative employment, local miners are left facing an uncertain future.
• 😀 The contrast between the glittering jewelry markets in Europe and America and the poverty-stricken mining regions of Sierra Leone highlights the stark inequality in the diamond trade.

Q & A

What is the main challenge faced by Sierra Leone's artisanal diamond miners?

The main challenge faced by Sierra Leone's artisanal diamond miners is the exhaustion of surface diamonds, which were once abundant. This has led to a difficult, backbreaking cycle of digging, lifting, and washing sand without finding many diamonds.

How much does 27-year-old CE earn a day, and why is it not sufficient?

27-year-old CE earns 7 cents a day, which is insufficient to sustain a livelihood, especially since diamonds are becoming increasingly rare and hard to find.

What happened during Sierra Leone's civil war with regard to diamond mining?

During Sierra Leone's civil war, rebel fighters enslaved locals to dig for 'blood diamonds,' which were smuggled to Liberia and exchanged for weapons, causing significant human suffering and exploitation.

What is the significance of Koidu Holdings in the diamond industry?

Koidu Holdings is an important mining company that processes diamonds from two large pits. It has also contributed to the development of local infrastructure, including houses, schools, and a health clinic, although the benefits are not fully reaching the local population.

How does Koidu Holdings support local communities in Sierra Leone?

Koidu Holdings supports local communities by resettling affected locals and providing infrastructure, such as housing, schools, and healthcare. However, the broader community development is still limited.

What is the new law regarding mining firms in Sierra Leone?

A new law forces mining firms in Sierra Leone to donate 1% of their annual turnover to local development projects, aiming to help improve the situation for impoverished communities in the region.

What is the situation in the communities near the mines, especially in terms of development?

The communities near the mines are the most deprived in terms of development. Despite the mining activity, there is a lack of community development projects, and these areas remain impoverished.

How have former child soldiers and rebel commanders been affected by the diamond mining?

Former child soldiers and rebel commanders are working in the mines, sifting through waste sand. Despite their hard work, they report no significant benefits, such as employment opportunities or improved living conditions.

Why is the local economy struggling despite the presence of diamond resources?

The local economy is struggling because the diamond supply is running dry, and the benefits of mining have not been effectively distributed to the majority of the local population. This leaves many people without sufficient employment or means of support.

What is the long-term outlook for the mining communities in Sierra Leone?

The long-term outlook is bleak for many mining communities in Sierra Leone. The depletion of surface diamonds and the failure to provide sustainable economic opportunities or substantial benefits to the local population suggest that these communities will continue to face poverty and hardship.