diamonds being produced in Liberia is far less than the amount of diamonds being exported.In the mid 1930s DeBeers was given exclusive mining rights to the entire country of Sierra Leone. By 1956, however, there were an estimated 75,000 illicit miners in Kono District - the heart of the diamond area - leading to smuggling on a vast scale, and causing a general breakdown of law and order. (PACNET) In 1968 Siaka Stevens became the prime minister of Sierra Leone. He was not an advocate of illegitimate diamond trade what so ever. From a high of over two million carats in 1970, legitimate diamond exports dropped to 595,000 carats in 1980 and then to only 48,000 in 1988. (PACNET) In 1985 Stevens left office and Joseph Momoh came to power. Constant wars have been going on in Sierra Leone for the past several decades. In 1991 the Revolutionary United Front (RUF) rebel war began and a military government replaced the president of Sierra Leone. Diamonds fueled the war and the constant chaos gave several diamond-mining companies a chance to step foot into Sierra Leone.It is hoped that these companies can establish stability in the economy of Sierra Leone. The ventures of new companies in Sierra Leone could provide jobs as well as stimulate legitimate trade with other countries. The three largest of these businesses are Rex Diamond, AmCan Minerals, and DiamondWorks. In fact Rex Diamond has come to the aide of the government in times of need. In 1998, Sierra Leone lost its only combat helicopter - a serious problem because the Soviet-built gunship had been the government's most effective weapon against the RUF. Zeev Morgenstern, Rex's Managing Director, and Serge Muller, the company's President, came to the government's aid by making an arrangement to supply engines, parts and ammunition worth US $3.8 million. (PACNET) Security problems have prevented many mining companies from getting much mining done. The RUF has put many operatio...
