Where do diamonds come from?

Index Number: AFR 01/011/2001
Date Published: 1 November 2001

This leaflet highlights the fact that whilst to many people, diamonds symbolise love, happiness or wealth, for many, they mean conflict, misery and poverty. In African countries such as Angola, Democratic Republic of Congo and Sierra Leone, the profits from unregulated diamond trade are used to obtain weapons and fund armed conflicts. As a result, tens of thousands of civilians have been killed, raped, mutilated or abducted.