Blood Diamonds

Blood Diamonds

Until 1974, Angola had been a colony under Portuguese jurisdiction since 1576. “The combined forces of the Popular Movement for the Liberation of Angola (MPLA), the National Front for the Liberation of Angola (FNLA), and the National Union for the Total Independence succeeded in their struggle in removing the Portuguese colonial government in April, 1974”[1]. A bloody transitional period ensued throughout the next year, where a struggle for control of Angola’s government erupted between these three groups. The FNLA quickly disappeared from the scene, and the main battle for power evolved between the MPLA under Jose dos Santos and UNITA under Dr. Jonas Savimbi.

The struggle for control over the Angolan government progressed into a civil war, which continues today. Early in the conflict as a continuation of the Cold War in Africa, the MPLA received aid from the Soviets and Cuba, while UNITA was funded by South Africa and the United States, whose interests were mainly geared toward removing the Cuban military presence in Angola. However, the end of the Cold War “had a significant effect on the foreign involvement in Angola, and as superpower patronage begins to dry up both sides need new sources of revenue”[2].

The United States and South Africa eventually ceased funding UNITA’s movement, and the rebel group had to find its own way of funding its cause. One of the major factors that politically and economically financed the civil war is the exploitation of Angola’s natural resources, namely its petroleum and diamonds. Director Paulinho Neto of Endiama, Angola’s diamond sector, stated, "If there is no war and free circulation of people and goods, we could easily become the second largest producer in the...

... middle of paper ...

...

[14] Kimberly Delegates, “Kimberly Process Certification Scheme” November 5, 2002

http://www.diamonds.net/news/newsitem.asp?num=7177&type=all&topic=Conflict

[15] “Kimberly Process” http://www.kimberleyprocess.com/default.asp

[16] “A Rough Trade: The Role of Companies and Governments in the Angolan Conflict, a

Report by Global Witness” December, 1998 Global Witness

http://www.globalwitness.org/campaigns/diamonds/downloads/art.txt

[17] 18 Zachary, G. Pascal. “Conflict-Rree Diamonds: A Competitive Edge?” Business for

Social Responsibility Magazine, Nov 12, 2002.

http://www.bsr.org/BSRResources/Magazine/Columnists.cfm?DocumentID=27923

[19] MacAskill, Ewen “Diamond States Bar War Zone Stones” November 6, 2002.

The Guardian http://www.guardian.co.uk/international/story/0,3604,834258,00.html