Across vast
stretches of Africa, diamonds fuel war. Diamonds are so lucrative for
predatory governments and marauding rebels that war has become a useful
cover for hugely profitable smuggling enterprises. But for millions of
Africans who happen to get in the way, diamonds are agents of terror.
By BLAINE HARDEN
Africa's Diamonds Are Warfare's Best Friend
The portability and anonymity of diamonds have made them the currency of choice for predators with guns in modern Africa.
PART II
Without Rebel Alliance, Making Diamonds Work
Botswana, the world's largest diamond producer, is one of the most
stable and prosperous countries in Africa.
WEB EXCLUSIVE
In the Heart of Africa, Darkness
Hell, as imagined by the outsider, has long
found a place in the Congo, as in Joseph Conrad's "Heart of Darkness."
Copyright 2000 The New York Times
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