Blood-diamond hunters eye new targets

The Kimberley Process, the scheme which monitors the trade in conflict diamonds - currently chaired by the EU - is investigating Zimbabwe and the Central African Republic after reports of smuggling of illicit gems.

But a Kimberley Process report of an investigation into conflict diamonds being smuggled through Ghana will say no evidence exists of an illegal trade. In addition, Liberia is soon expected to be allowed into the organisation when the UN lifts sanctions on the export of diamonds.

Reports that diamonds mined to fund conflict in the Democratic Republic of Congo are being traded through Zimbabwe have prompted an invitation from the Zimbabwean government for Kimberley Process experts to visit the country to investigate the claims. The mission is expected to travel to Zimbabwe soon, once security arrangements are in place, said Karel Kovanda, deputy director-general of the European Commission’s external relations department. "There have been press reports about their ability to control certain areas in the diamond trade. We have been in dialogue with them and they have said ‘come and see for yourself’," he said.

The EU took over as chair of the Kimberley Process in January for the year and has been co-ordinating the monitoring of the trade while also looking at ways to improve the process. The system requires strict conditions on the export of diamonds by its members including tamper-proof boxes and accompanying certificates. If proof is confirmed that diamonds used to fuel conflicts are being exported from a Kimberley Process member, the state is expelled from the organisation and banned from exporting diamonds to other members.

Information is also reaching Brussels that the conflict in the Sudanese province of Darfur has led to smuggling of diamonds through the Central African Republic. "Our worry is that fighting is spreading so as to engulf diamond-producing areas in the region…we are watching it from afar and getting reports from embassies, Commission offices and diamond traders," Kovanda said.

A recent mission in response to a UN report last year highlighting concern that diamonds from Ivory Coast were being exported through Ghana is not expected to recommend sanctions. "Ghana has been trying hard and has been doing a good job. There is no evidence that Ivorian diamonds are being smuggled from Ghana," said Kovanda. Kimberley Process experts will, however, continue to monitor the trade in conflict diamonds as non-governmental organisations fear that the trade may have moved elsewhere. "There is a lot of illicit activity between the borders. It is important to keep a focus on the Ivory Coast and find out where the diamonds are going," said Annie Dunnebacke, a campaigner with human rights group Global Witness, who went on the mission to Ghana.

Liberia, which has had a ban on the export of diamonds since 2001, is expected soon to have sanctions lifted by the UN after which it will apply to be admitted to the Kimberley Process. "It is important to show the other face of the Kimberley Process. The flip-side is that once a country does reach an end in building up procedures, the Kimberley Process opens up a country’s production to the world market. Conflict diamonds turn into diamonds for development," said Kovanda.

A meeting of the organisation’s expert groups will take place in June while a plenary session of all members will be held in Brussels in November. At these meetings the EU hopes to push through reform of the system, particularly on how industry produces statistics on diamond production and trade - an important indicator in assessing smuggling - and on devising intermediate sanctions for countries in violation of trade bans when the extreme option of expulsion from the organisation is not appropriate. Dunnebacke would also like to see more government monitoring of the different stages of production to ensure Kimberley Process requirements and recommendations are followed up.

The Kimberley Process, the scheme which monitors the trade in conflict diamonds - currently chaired by the EU - is investigating Zimbabwe and the Central African Republic after reports of smuggling of illicit gems.