Sierra Leone and its diamonds
16. Juli 2009 | Von atsil | Kategorie:Read the WorldIn the 1990s, the drugged-up rebels of the Revolutionary United Front controlled Kono’s mines by means of rape, murder and mutilation. When that bloody civil war ended in 2002, mining companies replaced the rebels but brought their own problems.
In response to collapsing demand, mining companies have been temporarily closing mines or reducing production. This does not hurt countries such as Australia and Russia all that much. But it squeezes poorer ones, particularly in Africa, very hard.
Besides, the diamonds’ recent lack of lustre may bring unexpected benefits. Many artisanal miners are going back to farming. In a country where food prices have doubled in a year, this is welcome.
Read more: Sierra Leone and its diamonds (economist.com)
