The notorious war in Sierra Leone was largely fueled by the involvement of national and international individuals and corporations dealing in minerals – code name ‘Blood Diamonds’. Diamonds are the most frequently used form of capital by the rebels in Sierra Leone to purchase weapons. The Diamond history of Sierra Leone began in 1935 when De Beers legally took complete control of the mining prospects in Sierra Leone for the next 99 years. Despite De Beers presence, Lebanese traders within Sierra Leone quickly discovered the immense profits that could be made by smuggling diamonds out of the country. As a result, illicit mining and trading soon increased throughout the country.

There was absolutely no proper monitoring of the activities of corporate entities and individuals operating in the mining sector in the country as those involved took advantage of the prevailing abysmal economic situations, and children were used as labourers in mining fields where they worked from dawn to dusk. This trend continued until Foday Sankoh, an ex-army sergeant, invaded the Eastern part of the country with his RUF renegades. Sankoh said he represented the impoverished Sierra Leoneans and wanted better accountability in Governance; thus the start of hostilities that lead to the death of thousands, hundreds maimed and raped, and women used as sex slaves.”