Liberia, Sierra Leone
The Kimberley Process in Liberia
July 2007
Following years of civil conflict and international restrictions on Liberia’s rough-diamond trade, the country’s diamond sector entered a critical transition in 2007.
The Kimberley Process Certification Scheme was established to reduce the trade in conflict diamonds while protecting legitimate trade in rough diamonds. Participating governments are responsible for implementing national controls and ensuring that international shipments are accompanied by Kimberley Process certificates. :contentReference[oaicite:1]{index=1}
On April 27, 2007, the United Nations Security Council terminated its diamond sanctions against Liberia. Liberia was formally identified as a participant in the Kimberley Process effective May 3, 2007. The field documentation took place in June and July, during the first months of this new regulatory period. :contentReference[oaicite:2]{index=2}
A three-person documentation team traveled through Liberia to examine the state of diamond mining and the country’s plans for developing a regulated mineral sector. Interviews were conducted with the Director of the National Security Agency and the Minister of Lands, Mines and Energy. The team also toured and filmed a facility intended for future diamond processing.
The project continued in Sierra Leone, where the team documented a working diamond mine. The resulting photographs, interviews, and film footage preserve a record of the period when Liberia was moving from international diamond sanctions toward certified rough-diamond exports under the Kimberley Process.
Field Documentation: June–July 2007
Location: Liberia and Sierra Leone
