The three countries most often associated with blood diamonds are: Sierra Leone, the Democratic Republic of Congo, and Angola. Diamonds fueled the civil wars in Angola (1975 – 2002), and in Sierra Leone (1991 – 2002). Illicit diamonds also funded two separate civil wars in the Democratic Republic of Congo (1996 – 2002). In these countries diamonds constituted the main source of capital to fund the purchase of weapons for war. Most historians mark the civil war in Angola (1975 – 2002) as the first instance of “blood diamonds.”
 
This diamond funded civil war brought the issue to worldwide attention, eventually leading the UN to ban its member States from purchasing diamonds from Angola.  
 
Many argue that these wars ended in part due to increased awareness of Conflict Diamonds which began in 1998 and continued until 2006. The first step was taken in 1998, after London-based non-governmental organization named Global Witness published a report introducing the concept of conflict diamonds.  The report was called “A Rough Trade” and focused on the illegal mining and smuggling of diamonds by Angolan rebels.

Conflict Diamonds = Blood Diamonds

Immediately, the UN publicly recognized the role diamonds played in funding the civil war in Angola, and made it illegal for any UN member countries to import any diamonds from that country. This was UN resolution 1173. Similar resolutions were adopted for Sierra Leone.

Photo Credit:  Brian Harrington Spier

However, these sanctions were simply not enough for legitimate member of the diamond trade.  The World Diamond Congress met in Kimberley, South Africa, in May of 2000 and aimed to stop the sale of conflict diamonds - for ever.  The goal was to break the link between the illicit transaction of rough diamonds and armed conflict through the creation of an international certification system.  In fact, later that year, the UN adopted a resolution based on the Kimberly meeting.  
 
The resolution underscored the fact that although illegal diamonds have caused regional conflict and suffer in some parts of Africa, the legitimate diamond trade contributed to regional prosperity and development elsewhere on the continent.  They requested that all member countries stop buy diamonds from specific conflict zones.  
 
The Kimberly Process Certification Scheme was approved by the UN in 2002 and implemented by member countries by 2003.  Simply put:  The Kimberly Process Certification Scheme is a guarantee that diamonds bearing their approval are conflict free.  The Kimberly Process brought the shine back into diamonds!