What Are Conflict Diamonds?

Conflict diamonds, also known as "blood diamonds," are diamonds mined in areas controlled by rebel forces or criminal groups, where the revenue from their sale is used to fund violent conflicts and human rights abuses. For example, during the civil war in Sierra Leone in the 1990s, rebel forces used diamonds to buy weapons and pay soldiers, resulting in the deaths of 75,000 people and displacing hundreds of thousands. In many regions where natural diamonds are mined, workers face poor conditions and low wages. According to Time Magazine, "Hundreds of miners die every year in tunnel collapses that are seldom reported due to their frequency."

More recently, a New York Times article stated that diamonds sourced from Russia might be labeled as conflict diamonds. The sale of Russian diamonds allegedly funds Russia's military actions in Ukraine, which has led several countries to consider these diamonds as contributing to "conflict financing." George Cajati, a U.S. State Department official, said, "Proceeds from that production are benefiting the same state that is conducting a premeditated, unprovoked, and unjustified war."

Though it is commonly believed that diamonds are mainly sourced from Africa, they are mined in other regions, such as Russia, Canada, and Australia. Russia, for example, is a major producer of smaller diamonds. Many jewelry pieces sold in the U.S., such as engagement rings and earrings, originate from Russian diamond mines in northeastern Russia. However, the revenue from these diamonds is allegedly funding military actions against Ukraine, leading some nations to classify them as conflict diamonds.