The draft plan recommends an increased UNMIL presence in diamond mining areas, as well as the lifting of the temporary ban on diamond mining in the country.

Revenues from diamond exports have continued to increase as the Government has increased its control over the diamond mining sector.

In December 2004, the Ministry of Lands, Mines and Energy began surveillance of diamond mining areas and discovered evidence of illegal diamond mining in Lofa, Nimba and Grand Gedeh Counties.

A presentation was made to the Plenary on the Diamond Development Initiative (DDI), an independent initiative aimed at improving the working conditions of, and remuneration to artisanal diamond miners.

In July and August, following the discovery of diamond deposits in Sanquin District, Sinoe County, some 20,000 people moved into the area, where they started illegal alluvial diamond mining activities.

According to surveys of mining sites conducted by UNAMSIL, more than 50 per cent of diamond mining remains unlicensed, and reports indicate that there is still a considerable degree of illegal diamond smuggling.

Commendable progress has been made in the diamond mining sector, particularly in the area of licensing and the substantial increase in the official exports of diamonds.

According to surveys of mining sites conducted by UNAMSIL, more than 50 per cent of diamond mining still remains unlicensed and reportedly considerable illegal diamond smuggling continues.

A total of 2,300 diamond mining licences were issued in 2004 compared to 800 in 2001.

As a result of this support, the Government of Sierra Leone has been able to extend its authority throughout the country, including in diamond mining areas, which has helped it to significantly increase official exports of diamonds.

In 2002, the sector has continued to show a declining trend both for diamond production as well as mining and quarrying.

These are not diamonds, not really.

The Government has made considerable progress in increasing its control over the diamond mining sector.

continue work to strengthen the role of the diamond industry and of its measures to prevent the introduction of conflict diamonds into the legitimate trade

It has prohibited the issuance of diamond mining licences and has trained 120 personnel in the Kimberley Process.

Recognizing also the positive benefits of the legitimate diamond trade to producing countries, and underlining the need for continued international action to prevent the problem of conflict diamonds from negatively affecting the trade in legitimate diamonds, which makes a critical contribution to the economies of many of the producing, exporting and importing States, especially developing States,

Yes, you're beautiful. What kind of earring will match with this kind of clothes?

Rocks n Diamonds

So we have a diamond drill.

Diamond Mine

Diamond

Diamonds

Two of Diamonds

The establishment of this system is expected to start in Kono in October 2005, and to be expanded later to other diamond mining areas.

91. In Kasaï Oriental between 300,000 and 400,000 children are being diverted from school and attracted towards diamond extraction and or trade.

See that stone? Who cried that one?

Diamond Blade One written on one, Diamond Blade Two on the other.

Diamond trading

Diamond Tree

Diamonds

My diamonds!

Diamond City.

The Diamond Area Community Development Fund, which provides a proportion of funds from the 3 per cent export tax on diamonds to chiefdoms in which mining is carried out, is also supporting development in those areas.

This remarkable growth is linked to increased Government control over diamond mining through the implementation of the Kimberley Process Certification Scheme and related measures taken by the Government.

More than 50 per cent of diamond mining activities in the country are still unlicensed.

kdiamond

Diamond!

Diamonds.

It's like a diamond.

In Liberia, the control and exploitation of diamonds, timber and other raw materials was one of the principal objectives of the warring factions.

Welcoming the progress made by the National Transitional Government of Liberia with training for diamond mining officials, but noting with serious concern the increase in unlicensed mining and illegal exports of diamonds and the National Transitional Government of Liberia's agreement to, and lack of transparency in, granting exclusive mining rights to a single company,

WGDE discussed possible solutions for the valuation of rough diamonds extracted from exploration samples.

Clarity about Diamonds

Diamonds removed

Gee, they look like diamonds!