Conflict, Diamonds and the Political Economy of Instability in Africa

Abstract

There are countries in Africa that form the hub of global diamond production, yet instead of always being a major asset, diamonds can become a major source of catastrophe. Using Sierra Leone, Angola and the Democratic Republic of Congo as examples, this paper explores the impact conflict diamonds have had on the lives of the people and the destabilization of these countries. A political economy conceptual framework is used since factors such as political history and economy of a country, corruption, greed and the ignorance of the West, all contribute to the trade of illicit diamonds. The findings suggest that African countries and Western countries share the blame for the trade in conflict diamonds and the grim repercussions facing some African countries.