Displaced People and Diamonds: Parts I and II

Displaced People and Diamonds (Chapter 7) Return to Unit List

Part I
One of Africa's greatest tragedies is the continued existence of conflicts throughout the continent. In many cases these conflicts are the indirect result of the legacy of European colonization. As was pointed out in the text, the legacies of foreign-established borders and resource extraction continue to cause problems in Africa. Both legacies have indirectly led to or aided the complicated recent history of political instability in the West African nations of Guinea, Liberia, and Sierra Leone. These three nations tell a story of local conflict intertwined with global markets, as well as the displacement of large numbers of peoples, adding additional fuel to the conflict. Although there is currently an uncertain peace throughout the region, the repatriation of uprooted people is still underway and threatens to provide further complications.

The first goal of this lesson is for you to understand the complicated relations that have led to the current state of affairs in Guinea, Liberia, and Sierra Leone. This part of West Africa was a site of conflict throughout the 1990s. The recent history of regional conflict clearly shows how seemingly local conflicts can spill into neighboring countries, creating an ever-increasing number of uprooted people along the way. In this West African case, one war caused a chain reaction of displaced people constantly on the move. In this lesson you will hear their stories and sort out the sequence of events that has led to their displacement.

The second goal of this lesson is for you to realize that while these conflicts seem local or regional, they are linked to global politics and markets in complex ways. The situation in West Africa affects not only the U.S. and other international governments; your choices as a consumer may inadvertently aid one side of the conflict and harm innocent people. In some ways, this case study offers a lesson in the global reach of your consumer dollars within seemingly local conflicts.

Begin this lesson by viewing the location of conflicts in Africa in the year 2000 and the movement of people to escape wars. Pay special attention to West Africa, where refugees seem to have moved from one conflict to the middle of another.

You may also want to view this slide show on uprooted people (refugees and internally displaced people (IDPs).

What is the difference between the two kinds of uprooted people - a refugee and an IDP?
Which kind of uprooted person do you believe would have the more difficult life and why?

The crisis of uprooted people in Guinea is inextricably connected to the civil wars in both Sierra Leone and Liberia. The following article from the Humanitarian Information Platform should help you sort out the history of the conflicts.

Another useful site is the Global IDP Project where you can search for news by nation.

At its worst stages, this conflict not only uprooted people, but the various factions blamed refugees for innumerable problems and armed groups purposefully attacked refugees. The following articles from Human Rights Watch describe the precarious position of refugees in Guinea:

The refugee crisis in Guinea: another Macedonia?

And Guinea: Refugees Subject to Serious Abuse

Why were refugees fleeing from Liberia and Sierra Leone to Guinea? What was the reaction of the Guinea authorities? Was this reaction justified?
From the Human Rights Watch article, what does Peter Takirambudde mean when he writes that "Guinea must live up to its responsibilities"? Do you agree with him? Who decides what those responsibilities are?
Who should be responsible for caring for refugees and IDPs?
What can you personally do to help this situation? Do you feel that you are linked to the crisis in West Africa in any way?

For the latest news on the tentative peace and the continued refugee crisis in the region, browse some of the articles at ReliefWeb – click on West Africa and browse by nation.

Finally, for more information specifically on Sierra Leone, view these photo essays created by Human Rights Watch, as well as a timeline of events from CNN, all of which help tell the story of human rights abuses in the region and introduce the context for Part II of this lesson:

In addition, CNN has produced a timeline of events. All of these resources help tell the story of human rights abuses in the region and introduce the context for Part II of this lesson.

Part II
Despite the attempts of the news media and NGOs to bring this crisis to the world's attention, you may still feel removed from the events taking place in this part of West Africa. This second lesson shows how you are connected to this region through your consumer dollars. Begin by reading this article by CNN about the use of the diamond trade to continue human rights abuses in Sierra Leone.

Then read this article describing the use of use of technology to track diamonds.

What is your reaction to learning about the global link between your own jewelry and the dismemberment of young people in Sierra Leone?

What is your responsibility as a consumer to protect the human rights of others, often people halfway around the world?

What role should diamond companies play in this situation?

How has technology helped ensure the benign origin of diamonds?

Finally, read about the changing roles and responsibilities of diamond companies through this story by CNN about DeBeers.

And read this site which discusses the use of timber in place of diamonds to support the conflicts.

How can the legacy of European colonialism still be seen in the market relations between West Africa and the rest of the world?
Finally, construct a brief consumer code that you will follow. Include in it the types of products you refuse to purchase and why. Outline the rules you will follow to decide if a company is worthy of your patronage. Describe your importance as a link in the global marketplace. Then print out your consumer code and do your best to follow it.