Publication

The Kimberley Process (KPCS) is a certification scheme designed not only to stop the trade in ‘conflict diamonds', but also to ensure that those who buy these diamonds are not indirectly financing rebellions against legitimate governments. This 'clean' definition of the problem, unfortunately, doesn't begin to address the murky role that diamonds once played in Angola's civil war and continue to play in the country. This paper traces the shadowy diamond trade networks that link together today’s MPLA-dominated government with senior Angolan military leaders and outside actors. The authors review the massive human rights violations that have occurred because of these networks, particularly in the Lunda provinces. Finally, they provide recommendations on how reformers should approach the problems afflicting Angola’s diamond mining areas.