The+Kono+District



**The Kono District (Sierra Leone)**  **Ta’Shanda Ruffin**  The Kono District is a diamond-rich area located in the eastern region of Sierra Leone. Diamonds were first discovered in the Kono District back in the 1930’s are of particularly high value due to the high percentage of top quality diamonds. Being a nation of turmoil, a civil war broke out in the Kono District during the 90s. March 1991, Liberian forces entered Sierra Leone with the objective of overthrowing the APC, the All People’s Congress, from its one-party military rule (Sierra Leone: Diamonds for Arms). However, the diamonds of Sierra Leone, specifically the Kono District, would become a major focus. For a majority of the time diamonds being produced during this time were minded to fund this civil war, which would become known as blood diamonds, due to the blood shed and lives taken in order to obtain them. It is estimated that since 1991, 7500 people have died with 20,000 having been mutilated in the war with blood diamonds being the cause (Campbell). By 1992, the RUF, Revolutionary United Front, gained control of the Kono District using its diamond as a money source to purchase small arms, light machine guns, and rocket-propelled grenades (Sierra Leone: Diamonds for Arms). In 1996, the war took a brief pause due to the election of Ahmad Tejan Kabban of the Sierra Leone People’s Party–a break from the one party military rule–and the signing of the Abidjan Accord, a peace-agreement to cease-fire and demobilize forces throughout Sierra Leone (Sierra Leone: Diamonds for Arms). However, the peace negotiations began to waver, in result the Armed Forces Revolutionary Council and RUF–otherwise known as the Junta, staged a coup to overthrow Kabbah. Years later in 1998 President Kabbah was reinstated upon signing an agreement with the Junta and were later forced to retreat out of most of Sierra Leone, however, the RUF was able to maintain control of the Kono, therefore allowing them to continue to fund their military and profit from diamond trade (Sierra Leone: Diamonds for Arms).



 In recent years, the situation in the Kono district has not improved to say the least and the RUF is still in control. With about 5500 guerilla fighters still remaining, they have taken to looting villages, burning houses, and sexually assaulting females, and abducting children for slave labor to continue mining (Campbell). Though the Kono is now under UN supervision, warring still continues over who will control the diamond producing areas. The truth is who ever controls the diamonds controls the war which entails having wealth, and ultimate power in the Kono District. Because such a violent and militant group is still in control of such a crucial part of the nation many fear that the Kono will remain in a poor and desperate state, never to profit from their abundance of lucrative resources and beautiful–marketable– scenery.

Works Cited Campbell, Greg. “Peace at last in Sierra Leone?”. Christian Science Monitor 93.160 7 July 2001: 6. Ebscohost. Web. 3 Feb. 2011

“Sierra Leone: Diamonds for Arms”. [|www.wcl.american.edu]. Dickey, Sheryl, n.d. Web. 3 Feb. 2011