Sierra Leone
ECOWAS lukewarm about diamond trade embargo

afrol, 6 July - As the UN Security Council yesterday evening decided to prohibit import of diamonds from Sierra Leone, the resolution was adopted by a vote of 14 in favour to none against, with one abstention - Mali. Mali abstained because the resolution was naming neighbouring countries, such as Liberia as partly guilty in the ongoing illicit trade. 

Mali's abstention reflected the the view of the ECOWAS mediation group on Sierra Leone, which had had a meeting on the matter on 21 June. Liberia is a member of the mediation group, such as other neighbouring countries more or less involved in the illicit diamond trade by the RUF rebel groups, financing their terrorist actions by the control of most of the Sierra Leone diamond fields and trade.

Mali's representative to the Security Council, Moctar Oane, said the issue before the Council was of particular importance to his country, which was the current Chairman of ECOWAS.

Yesterday’s Security Council session followed a recent meeting with Council of the ECOWAS mediation group on Sierra Leone on 21 June. Moctar Oane noted in particular that a member of the mediation group, Liberia, had been mentioned in the draft text, with its role being called into question. The ECOWAS mediation group, at a high level, is to meet United Nations Secretariat officials on the Sierra Leone situation during the forthcoming summit of the Organization of African Unity (OAU) on 10 July. 

- Mali had often recalled that the main concern should be the revival of the peace effort, Oane stated. An ECOWAS eight-point peace plan for Sierra Leone covered a number of provisions in the text. The plan had been discussed with the Council at the 21 June meeting, with the need for partnership in the search for peace in Sierra Leone being emphasized. 

The UN draft calling for the embargo did not sufficiently take account of the concerns expressed by the ECOWAS position, Oane continued. Mali was concerned about the reference to Liberia in the text. It would not be acceptable to ECOWAS, as a study of the situation had not been completed and his delegation could not support the text. The Council must think of the future, and must reflect on the way President Charles Taylor of Liberia could be involved in the search for peace in Sierra Leone. 

Last year the Sierra Leone delegation to the United Nations had told the Council that it supported the idea of naming names in connection with the illegal trade in what had been described as “conflict diamonds”. Naming names should be seen as an expression of serious concern at the role played by the illicit trade in diamonds in fueling conflict. It was a peaceful means of applying political and moral pressure on the principal transit route of such trade to help facilitate an early and peaceful end to the conflict. The illicit export of Sierra Leone diamonds was not only the root and fuel of the conflict, but also constituted a major obstacle to its peaceful resolution. 

It is believed that the cooperation of Sierra Leone's neighbouring countries is necessary to make the embargo effective. 

Major diamond processing countries, such as India and Israel, already have responded positively to the UN resolution, stating they will put pressure on local diamond traders and industry.

Source: Based on United Nations

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