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Date: April 20, 2024 Sat
Time: 4:09 am
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Results for diamonds
8 results foundAuthor: Partnership Africa Canada Title: The Lost World: Diamond Mining and Smuggling in Venezuela Summary: This report on the diamond mining industry of Venezuela documents how and why Venezuela’s diamonds – an industry that produces from 150,000 to 200,000 carats per year, worth as much as US$20 million annually – have been driven underground. PAC further details the inability of Venezuela’s Ministry of Basic Industry and Mining (Miban) to control the diamond trade, officially ignoring the problem, while official diamond exports dwindled to nothing. Details: Ottawa: Partnership Africa Canada, 2006. 19p. Source: Internet Resource; Occasional Paper #16 Year: 2006 Country: Venezuela URL: Shelf Number: 119538 Keywords: DiamondsIllegal TradeSmuggling |
Author: Mavhinga, Dewa Title: Deliberate Chaos: Ongoing Human Rights Abuses in the Marange Diamond Fields of Zimbabwe Summary: Human rights abuses remain rampant in Marange, the diamond-mining area of eastern Zimbabwe. Military personnel continue to engage in forced labor and to punish those who seek to mine outside of soldier-run syndicates. Torture, beatings, and harassment are also prevalent in this community, which faces forced relocation without adequate compensation from the diamond-rich areas in which they make their homes. As this report went to press, a Zimbabwean civil-society activist was in prison for having divulged sensitive information about persistent human rights abuses in Marange. The Kimberley Process Certification Scheme, an international group that monitors the diamond trade and seeks to restrict the sale of conflict diamonds, meets in Israel in June 2010. Kimberley Process members should suspend Zimbabwe and withhold shipment of diamonds from Marange until the abuses documented by Human Rights Watch have ceased. Zimbabwe should comply with recommendations made by the Kimberley Process in November 2009 to demilitarize the diamond fields and end the rampant smuggling of diamonds. As Zimbabwe recovers from a man-made humanitarian crisis, Human Rights Watch also calls on the government to account for lost diamond revenue from Marange and use this revenue to improve socioeconomic conditions in the country. Details: New York: Human Rights Watch, 2010. 16p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed September 21, 2010 at: http://www.hrw.org/node/90988 Year: 2010 Country: Zimbabwe URL: http://www.hrw.org/node/90988 Shelf Number: 119849 Keywords: DiamondsHuman Rights AbusesSmuggling |
Author: Agger, Kasper Title: Warlord Business: CAR's Violent Armed Groups and their Criminal Operations for Profit and Power Summary: The two main armed groups in the Central African Republic (CAR) - the ex-Seleka and the Anti-Balaka, along with their multiple factions - make millions of dollars in profits from illicit activities, which support their operations and create wealth for ruthless warlords and business owners. Killings, extortion, and other forms of violence are used to control areas with gold and diamonds throughout CAR, and the groups are deeply involved in this high-value trade in several ways. The two groups also generate income through illicit taxes and "protection money" from civilians, road travelers, businesses, local organizations, and state institutions. Ex-Seleka and Anti-Balaka groups profit from a large illicit minerals trade. They do this directly by the mining and theft of diamonds and gold that they then sell to middlemen. They also profit indirectly by looting, extortion, and predatory taxation of miners and traders. Research presented in this report estimates the total current value of the illicit diamond trade and taxation by armed groups in CAR to be between $3.87 and $5.8 million dollars annually, a sufficient amount in CAR to fund widespread military operations. The majority of the diamonds and the gold are smuggled out of CAR to neighboring countries - mainly Cameroon, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and Sudan - and then on to international markets; a lesser amount is sold on the local market within CAR. Some of the diamonds sold locally are purchased by three Central African diamond buying houses that currently have a total stock of diamonds worth close to $8 million. This domestic diamond trade is not prohibited by the Kimberley Process (KP) suspension of CAR's membership and the decision by KP members to refrain from sending or receiving diamond shipments from CAR that has been in effect since May 2013 and only restricts exports of rough Central African diamonds. Deliberations are, however, underway concerning the possibility of a partial lifting of the KP restrictions. There are concerns that the combination of an inadequate diamond tracing system in CAR and control by armed groups of diamond mines could result in conflict diamonds, which have provided financing for armed groups, entering the KP-approved diamond trade. To counter this danger, any lifting of CAR's KP diamond restrictions should be conditioned on the removal of all armed groups from mining sites, full control of diamond trading markets by U.N. peacekeepers or local gendarmes, and a credible tracing and due diligence system for diamonds bought and sold by Central African diamond companies, including those for export. In addition to natural resource exploitation, ex-Seleka factions in particular have set up efficient tax collection practices. Conservative assessments estimate that different factions within the group collect $1.5 to $2 million annually from illicit road taxation throughout the areas they control in central and eastern CAR. They gain an additional estimated $210,000 to $420,000 in taxation of cattle traders and $200,000 to $240,000 from taxation of coffee traders. Meanwhile, Anti-Balaka groups that roam western CAR collect illicit road taxes, extort money from rural villages, and demand sums that range from $600 to $1,000 as a one-time payment for "protection." Additional research is needed to estimate the total annual profits collected by Anti-Balaka groups through road taxation, looting, and other abusive activities. Details: Washington, DC: Enough Project, 2015. 32p. Source: Internet Resource: The Political Economy of African Wars: No. 2: Accessed June 7, 2016 at: http://www.enoughproject.org/files/Warlord%20Business%20061615.pdf Year: 2015 Country: Central African Republic URL: http://www.enoughproject.org/files/Warlord%20Business%20061615.pdf Shelf Number: 139294 Keywords: DiamondsExploitation of Natural ResourcesExtortionIllicit TradeLootingNatural ResourcesViolence |
Author: Bromberg, Megan Title: Mapping the Illicit Mineral Trade: Identifying the Illicit Supply Chain for Diamonds, Gold, and Tantalum Across Contexts Summary: The illicit mineral trade is a global issue that affects all countries, as illicit or conflict minerals continue to unwittingly end up in our jewelry, phones, and laptops. Whether these minerals come from unregulated mines that use child labor and harm the environment, fund the insurgencies of armed groups, or are smuggled into neighboring countries by corrupt government officials, the illicit mineral trade is dependent on the exploitation of poverty and those who rely on the mining to survive. Details: Washington, DC: American University, 2016. 100p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed September 20, 2016 at: http://www.american.edu/sis/practica/upload/Mapping-the-Illicit-Mineral-Trade.pdf Year: 2016 Country: International URL: http://www.american.edu/sis/practica/upload/Mapping-the-Illicit-Mineral-Trade.pdf Shelf Number: 145610 Keywords: Conflict MineralsDiamondsGoldIllegal MiningIllicit MineralsIllicit TradeNatural Resources |
Author: Southward, Fiona Title: Diamonds in the Central African Republic Summary: Since May 2013 the Central African Republic has been suspended from the Kimberly Process (KP) - a measure maintained by the mechanism's annual plenary in Guangzhou, China, this November. The CAR's transitional authorities have been seeking at least a partial lifting of this export ban so that the country might benefit from the much needed revenues its diamonds can generate. However, the authorities in this beleaguered state have thus far failed to secure control over both the security situation and the country's diamond trade: a recent UN expert report estimates that the CAR has lost US$24 million worth of diamonds to smuggling since May 2013. Indeed, IPIS' own investigations - the findings of which are outlined in a report released end November 2014 have found that large tracts of diamond producing areas in eastern CAR remain under ex-Seleka control, with stones continuing to access international markets. This IPIS Insight will elaborate on IPIS' findings in its recent report, Mapping Conflict Motives: the Central African Republic - the latest in our conflict mapping series. It gives some insight into the modes of exploitation used by armed groups in the CAR to profit from diamonds and the role these stones have played in the complex and shifting dynamics that characterise the on-going crisis, both in the east and west of the country. It will then briefly consider the KP's role in this context. Details: Antwerpen: IPIS, 2014. 13p. Source: Internet Resource: IPIS Insights: Accessed September 24, 2016 at: http://ipisresearch.be/wp-content/uploads/2014/12/20141222_Insight_diamonds1.pdf Year: 2014 Country: Central African Republic URL: http://ipisresearch.be/wp-content/uploads/2014/12/20141222_Insight_diamonds1.pdf Shelf Number: 146111 Keywords: Conflict DiamondsDiamondsNatural Resources |
Author: Partnership Africa Canada Title: Reap What You Sow: Greed and Corruption in Zimbabwe's Marange Diamond Fields Summary: The Marange diamond fields of eastern Zimbabwe could be the country's salvation. Often described as the biggest diamond discovery of a generation, Marange has undoubtedly put Zimbabwe on the diamond map. Managed right, it could have been the transformational vehicle through which the country turns around its failing economic fortunes, while also serving as an example to other African countries blessed with mineral riches. But since its discovery in 2006, Marange's potential has been overshadowed by violence, smuggling, corruption, and most of all, lost opportunity. The chief custodian of Marange is Obert Mpofu, the country's Minister of Mines. For individuals or companies wanting to secure a mining concession to exploit a slice of Marange's riches, it is ostensibly Minister Mpofu that they need to convince of the merits of their application. After President Robert Mugabe, whose office is vested with the ultimate authority over the country's natural resources, Mpofu is in theory the gatekeeper and arbiter of everything to do with Marange. In practice, however, he has deferred many of these responsibilities to the country's military chiefs. His ministerial duties also require that he serve the public good and best interests of the Zimbabwean people by responsibly managing Marange. But on his watch, the world has seen perhaps the biggest single plunder of diamonds since Cecil Rhodes. Conservative estimates place the theft of Marange goods at almost $2 billion since 2008. Far from defending the best interests of Zimbabwe, Minister Mpofu has presided over a ministry that has awarded concessions to dubious individuals with no prior mining experience, often under very questionable terms or circumstances. Due diligence of miners has been an afterthought. As Minister he has solicited and approved applications from members of Zimbabwe's security forces, including those implicated in human rights abuses in Marange. There is little consistency in how concessions are awarded, other than to ensure the details of any deal are opaque and as far beyond the scrutiny of government ministers and the public as possible. The scale of illegality is mind blowing. One confidential geologist report cited by the August 2010 Kimberley Process Review Mission to Zimbabwe claimed "in excess of 10,000,000 carats have been removed by artisanal effort over the last three years" - an amount worth almost $600,000,000 at today's depressed prices. The Review Mission also estimated illegal mining at 60,000 carats a month, ranking the illicit Marange trade at between 7th and 10th in overall world diamond production. Hundreds of millions of dollars owed to Zimbabwe's Treasury have been lost in both illegal and legal trades. Determining the actual amount is impossible, but in February 2011 fiscal update the Finance Minister Tendai Biti complained US$300 million collected by Zimbabwean Minerals Development Corporation (ZMDC) and the Mineral Marketing Commission of Zimbabwe (MMCZ) - two parastatals under Mpofu's remit - had not arrived in state coffers. Details: Ottawa: Partnership Africa Canada, 2012, 36p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed October 8, 2016 at: http://www.pacweb.org/Documents/diamonds_KP/Reap_What_You_Sow-eng-Nov2012.pdf Year: 2012 Country: Zimbabwe URL: http://www.pacweb.org/Documents/diamonds_KP/Reap_What_You_Sow-eng-Nov2012.pdf Shelf Number: 145375 Keywords: CorruptionDiamondsEnvironmental CrimesIllegal MiningIllegal TradeNatural Resources |
Author: Obale, Offah Title: From Conflict to Illicit: Mapping the Diamond Trade from Central African Republic to Cameroon Summary: The Central African Republic (CAR) is the only source of traditionally defined conflict diamonds in the world today. Since May 2013, exports of its diamonds have been under international embargo by both the United Nations and the Kimberley Process (KP), the initiative that regulates the production and trade of rough diamonds. CAR was suspended from the KP after a March 2013 coup d'état that sparked widespread civil unrest in the country. The coup was the inevitable outcome of years of political instability forged by a coalition of rebel groups, known as Seleka, who attacked the government and incrementally seized territory, including the strategic diamond-mining town of Bria. On March 24, 2013 Séléka captured the capital city of Bangui and overthrew the government, initiating a bitter internal conflict that continues to fester to this day. The civil war and regime change forced the United Nations and the international community to impose economic sanctions on CAR. Not only were all diamond exports prohibited, the KP urged diamond-trading countries to exercise enhanced vigilance and ensure that diamonds produced in CAR were seized and not allowed to circulate in legitimate trade. While the ban on CAR’s exports was partially lifted in 2016 from regions deemed to be KP compliant, that has not stopped the flow of CAR's conflict diamonds to international markets—while it was under full embargo or regions still prevented from trading today. This report examines the smuggling of diamonds from the Central African Republic into Cameroon. Further, it focuses on the impact this illicit trade has on Cameroon’s internal controls as well as the broader integrity of the diamond supply chain. The report describes the methods used and the key actors involved in this illicit trade. It concludes that the KP and frontline countries like Cameroon need to do more to interrupt the illicit trade of conflict diamonds from CAR and support each other in taking action. Details: Ottawa: Partnership Africa Canada, 2016. 36p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed December 2, 2016 at: http://pacweb.org/images/PUBLICATIONS/from-conflict-to-ilicit-eng-web.pdf Year: 2016 Country: Africa URL: http://pacweb.org/images/PUBLICATIONS/from-conflict-to-ilicit-eng-web.pdf Shelf Number: 147323 Keywords: Conflict DiamondsConflict MineralsDiamondsIllegal TradeIllicit TradeSmuggling |
Author: Partnership Africa Canada Title: Triple Jeopardy: Triplicate Forms and Triple Borders: Controlling Diamond Exports from Guyana Summary: South America's second oldest diamond producer, Guyana has year after year been quietly producing tens and often hundreds of thousands of small, clear, high-quality diamonds for most of the 20th century. Guyana signed on to the Kimberley Process on December 13, 2002, putting in place a system designed to ensure that the diamonds exported from Guyana are all legally produced and declared in Guyana. The country has a number of natural advantages that have helped this effort. Guyana is relatively small by South American standards, with transportation routes and administrative capacity all centred on the capital, Georgetown. Mining has historically been, and remains one of the country's key industries, with the result that the Guyana government takes mining regulation seriously. The government agency in charge of mining, the Guyana Geology and Mines Commission (GGMC) is an autonomous public corporation, able to raise its own funds, hire its own staff and design and implement its own regulatory regimes. An institutional descendent of the old Geological Survey of British Guiana, the GGMC has inherited and preserved many of the better aspects of the British civil service tradition. The current GGMC Commissioner, Brindley H. Robeson Benn, appears to be an able and effective administrator, determined to bring Guyana's diamond fields under his control. In this effort he has the backing of Guyana's Prime Minister, Samuel Hinds. Details: Ottawa: Partnership Africa Canada, 2006. Source: Internet Resource: Occasional paper (Diamonds and Human Security Project), no. 14., 2006: Accessed August 7, 2017 at: http://dspace.africaportal.org/jspui/bitstream/123456789/26088/1/Triple%20Jeopardy%20-%20Triplicate%20Forms%20and%20Triple%20Borders%20-%20Controlling%20Diamond%20Exports%20from%20Guyana.pdf?1 Year: 2006 Country: Guyana URL: http://dspace.africaportal.org/jspui/bitstream/123456789/26088/1/Triple%20Jeopardy%20-%20Triplicate%20Forms%20and%20Triple%20Borders%20-%20Controlling%20Diamond%20Exports%20from%20Guyana.pdf?1 Shelf Number: 146750 Keywords: Blood DiamondsDiamond MiningDiamond SmugglingDiamondsPrecious Minerals |