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     Cameroon, Chad Tighten Their Borders to Stem Flow of Conflict Diamonds

   by Moki Edwin Kindzeka

   Cameroon and Chad are tightening border security to halt the illegal
   flow of diamonds said to be sponsoring armed groups in neighboring,
   conflict-torn Central African Republic, the governments of the two
   countries said in a strategist meeting in Yaounde.
   Cameroon and Chad said escalating violence in the Central African
   Republic is raising suspicions that the country's diamonds are being
   used to buy weapons. Cameroon's mining minister Emmanuel Mbonde told
   VOA that they are stepping up efforts to stop so-called "blood
   diamonds" from transiting through their territory.
   He said Cameroon has recruited and deployed people to the borders to
   identify all diamonds and assure their traceability  because it is only
   certified diamond that is authorized for export.
   CAR was officially suspended from global diamond trade last November by
   the Kimberly Process Certification Scheme, KPCS, an international
   government, industry and civil society initiative to stem the flow of
   conflict diamonds. Jaff Napoleon, a member of the civil society, says
   if Cameroon's admittance in the KPCS last year allows the conflict
   diamonds to transit through its territory, it may also be suspended.
   "If it is established that diamonds are actually leaving Central Africa
   [Republic], entering the commercial circuit through Cameroon, Cameroon
   will be suspended just like Central African Republic. That is why there
   is need for  sub-regional consultations. How do we make sure that
   diamonds do not really contribute to fuel conflicts," said Napoleon.
   Napoleon also told VOA that so-called conflict - or blood - diamonds
   are rough diamonds used by rebel movements to finance wars against
   legitimate governments. He said Chad is already aware that the
   international community will impose sanctions if precious stones are
   allowed to pass through its territory.
   "If you go down memory lane, you know the conflicts in Sierra Leone,
   you know the conflict in Liberia, in Angola, basically diamonds were
   used to fuel these conflicts and you know it led to untold human
   suffering," Napoleon stated. "And now with the situation in Central
   Africa, how do we make sure that what happened in Sierra Leone, in
   Liberia, in Angola does not also happened in Central Africa?"
   The Central African Republic descended into a bloody conflict 15 months
   ago, with Muslim fighters and Christian groups attacking each other.
   The United Nations and humanitarian agencies report that more than
   1,000 people have been killed and one million others have been
   displaced by the violence.
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   o-stem-flow-of-conflict-diamonds/1883626.html

References

   1. http://www.voanews.com/content/cameroon-chad-tighten-their-borders-to-stem-flow-of-conflict-diamonds/1883626.html