Development Diamonds – Sierra Leone

Published by MAC on 2003-01-15

Development Diamonds – Sierra Leone

This is a paper presented by National Coordinator of the Network Movement for Justice and Development (NMJD), Mr. Abu A. Brima, at the Wilton Park Conference in London on Environment, Development and Sustainable Development: Finding Paths to Environmental Peacemaking held on 16-19 September 2004.

The Sierra Leone Mineral Sector

The emphasis on natural resource extraction to generate economic growth and promote development by reducing poverty and thereby ensuring sustainable peace has generated controversy amongst development scholars, donors and borrowers, and civil society. These observers have noted that resource extraction has questionable economic and development benefits, and can exact severe socioeconomic and environmental costs. Indeed, despite the intensive exploitation of Sierra Leone’s natural resource wealth especially diamonds since the early 1930s, poverty still remains pervasive and endemic.

Over the last three decades, Sierra Leone has suffered from conspicuously constrained economic growth, with negative GDP growth rates recorded on a year-on-year basis, and produced disappointing results in terms of promoting development and addressing the basic needs of their citizens. As a result the country has persistently maintained the bottom ladder of the Human Development Index for more than the last three consecutive years. This implies that there is large proportion of people living on less than $1 per day.

In spite of this negative development, the mining sector is believed to be the only sector that can easily contribute significantly to the country’s economic recovery and development process. Diamonds remain the chief export earner, with significant reserves of other minerals such as gold, rutile, bauxite, chromites and iron ore, as well as a potential for oil discovery. Despite its great potential, the mining sector accounts for only about 20% of GDP due to improper policies for the exploitation and utilization of the resources in the sector

The mining sector in Sierra Leone of which diamonds play a central role, was no doubt, the economic nerve center for the growth and development of the country in the 1960s and 1970s. It was a major source of revenue for the government and its proper management had a significant implication in the economic, social and even political life of the people of Sierra Leone. With bad politics, poor management and downward economic trends, the diamond sector became mismanaged, uncoordinated; illegality prevailed and eventually collapsed. The 11-year brutal rebel war (1991-2002) was partly a result of this unfortunate situation that ended up drilling the last nail in the death coffin of the mining sector.

With the diamond mines in the firm grips of the rebels, it was possible for them (the rebels) to bankroll their war machinery, destroy more than 3,000 communities, kill over 75,000 people, dislocate/displace close to half the 5 million inhabitants and rape so many women and girls, brutally hack-off the limbs of more than 2000 innocent civilians and forcefully abduct about 10,000 children to be used as beasts of burden. The diamonds were used to devastate, destroy, disfigure and damage every aspect of the country. Yes, diamonds are capable of doing this and anything else-indeed anything the users want to put it into.

But before this war, the sector was already in bad shape-un-regulated, uncoordinated, mismanaged, corrupted and politicized. It was a free for all sector inundated with criminal elements. It was a fertile ground for foreign diamond business tycoons and companies that were prepared to make as much profits as possible in the midst of chaos and uncertainties. Business was ‘good’ for the crooked as Sierra Leone degenerated till it came to its knees with the outbreak of the war in 1991.

Development Diamonds?

The response of Civil Society to the human tragedy came when the campaign to criminalize conflict/blood diamonds was launched in 2000 by Partnership Africa Canada (PAC), Global Witness (GW), International Peace Information Service (IPIS) and Network movement for Justice & Development (NMJD) and their partners. This campaign aimed at drawing international attention to the global criminal nature of the Sierra Leone diamond trade, the global security implications inherent in such an affair, the insensitivity of the international community to the plight of the near genocide that was being planned in Sierra Leone and the need for a global international action to halt trade in conflict diamonds and institute a global mechanism to make trade in diamonds conflict free. This is what was accomplished in the three year tripartite negotiations among governments, diamond industry and civil society that culminated in the signing of the Kimberley Process Certification Scheme (KPCS)[1] in January 2003 that is now acceded to by 43 countries including the European Community, involved in the production, export and import of rough diamonds and accounts for approximately 98% of the trade in rough diamonds.

The aim here is to isolate rebel groups using diamonds for war and protect the legitimate trade as well. This is not to say that corrupt and oppressive governments will not trade in diamonds. And it does not also deal with the problems of miner and digger in the diamond pits anywhere. KPSC only deals with the trade aspect-how the diamond travels from the production till it is exported, processed and traded. With the certification process Sierra Leone export of diamonds has increased from USD41.73 million in 2002 to USD76 million (82%) in 2003, with 2004 projected at USD100 million[2].

Sierra Leoneans are hopeful that the mining sector will once again be made to make important contributions towards industrial, socio-economic and infrastructure development particularly in the rural areas. It is expected to provide new employment opportunities, generate foreign exchange earnings and contribute ignorantly to government revenue[3]. The establishment of the USAID funded and managed Peace Diamond Alliance (PDA)[4] launched in December 2002 has a formal membership of miners/diggers, dealers, exporters and aims at coordinating the diamond sector to ensure that mining is done in a responsible, transparent, accountable manner that benefits the membership and the community as a whole. Presently concentrated in Kono district, it is meant to spread out in other parts of the country. Capacity building and facilitating fair trade are part of the agenda of PDA.

Another initiative that is pushing forward the development diamonds agenda is the educational and advocacy work of the NMJD initiated and run Campaign for Just Mining (CJM)[5] in Sierra Leone. Launched in January 2000 as part of the “Conflict/blood Diamond Campaign” CJM advocates for legality, accountability, transparency and social responsibility in the mining sector. The aim her is to contribute to the consolidation of peace in the country by ensuring that the mining sector is made to operate in a way that is acceptable, beneficial to the local people taking in account their needs and peculiar situations with their active involvement in decisions relating to policies, laws, agreements, and other relevant issues. This is pursued through educational programmes, consultations, capacity building programmes, and campaigns at both local and international levels. The work of CJM is supported a lot more by Partnership Africa Canada and other friends. Much has be achieved but of course a lot remain to be addressed.

Broader, umbrella and more inclusive civil society coalition establishment in the name of National Advocacy Coalition on Extractives (NACE) replacing the Diamond Area Community Development Fund (DACDF)[6] initiative has given a new stamp to the institutionalization of the campaign thereby legitimizing the earlier initiatives and providing a more solid platform for policy engagement. As a matter of fact this new coalition accommodates few government institutions like the Ministry of Mines and Mineral Resources, the ministry of Local Government; also included is the Anti-Corruption Commission. Originally the major pre-occupation of NACE was to ensure the proper, transparent, accountable and beneficial use of the DACDF. NACE provides a unique opportunity for direct bilateral engagement between government and civil society. It is modeled on the Kimberley Process and very soon the corporate entities will be encouraged and invited to take part. However, the individual advocacy organizations maintain their autonomy and mandate even as they belong to the coalition. The coalition gives a broader outlook to the campaign and provides platform for solidarity and unity of purpose.

The Challenges

With the end of the war in 2002, there has been an increased influx of diamond exploration and mining companies (for alluvial and Kimberlite mines). The physical mining process itself has a direct negative impact on the environment and if appropriate measures are not taken it will lead to destruction and threatening of the peace already achieved. For instance, mining activities, particularly in the eastern and southern regions of the country have left vast areas of land deforested and degraded. It is estimated that between 80,000 and 120, 000 hectares of land have been mined out in different parts of the country with minimal efforts at reclamation. The uncontrolled exploitation of mineral resources, coupled with the absence of mitigating policies and conservation programmes over the years has resulted in downward spirals of environmental degradation and socioeconomic consequences.

Development

In spite of the problems inherent in the diamond sector, there is great expectation that once again this sector is looked upon to salvage the country from its present crisis. This is better captured by the Ministry of Mineral Resources in their Proposed Core Mineral Policy of November 2003[7], which states “The minerals sector has been an essential part of the Sierra Leone economy for almost ninety years. Reform of the mineral sector and the diamond industry in particular are considered crucial because of their importance to the economic development of the country. The Government has correspondingly assigned a high priority to activities aimed at the reactivation and sustainable development of the mineral sector to assist in rebuilding the country and rectifying the devastation caused by the war” In recognition of the environmental degradation caused by mining, the irresponsible manner in which it is conducted and the negative economic impact on the people and country, the proposed Core Mineral Policy document went on the add “ The principles and objectives outlined in the Core Mineral Policy will ensure that the development of the minerals sector is achieved in ways that will protect the environment and that are socially responsible and economically viable”

It is also increasingly believed that mining can definitely contribute to enhance economic growth; increase government revenues that can be used to finance development initiatives and the provision of essential public services; create jobs; facilitate the transfer of technology; lead to the improvement or construction of essential infrastructure; and catalyze the growth of lateral or downstream industries. These theoretical arguments, however, are often at odds with empirical evidence of the negative impacts of mineral resource abundance on human development. Research seems to indicate that although mineral exports may make up a significant share of a country’s exports, mineral development does not always boost a country’s economic growth and may, in some cases, contribute to increased poverty. The reasons for the lack of economic growth in the mineral sector dependent states are not entirely conclusive (Ross, 1999). However, low levels of employment in the sector, use of mostly imported technology, high market volatility of minerals, competition with agricultural sectors, and institutional corruption and mismanagement may be contributing factors (Sideri and Johns, 1990; Gelb et al., 1988; Auty, 1990). Moreover, it is seen that the actual strategic interventions in the mining sectors are often inconsistent with the government stated development programme rationale.

The resulting implication is the country’s lack of fiscal discipline and sustainability that have long-term socioeconomic consequences on the well being of its citizens.

Health

In spite of the gowning expectations that the mining sector will be of any good, the present reality spells doom for the communities, the miners and country as a whole. Artisanal Mining, which is the most widespread form of mining, is very badly managed and uncoordinated. The mining areas are the poorest in terms of health facilities and sanitary conditions. A recent research conducted by Green Scenery[8] described the situation in part thus: “There is very poor sanitary condition with dug out pits infected with mosquitoes, bacteria and pother vectors, found in towns and villages and even near homes. Thus there is prevalence of malaria, at times cholera, and diarrhea. Mining activities such as diving, deep pits mining have left people blind, deaf, and disfigured. There were reports of chronic pains, pneumonia and sexually transmitted infections. Essential drugs to address the health needs are inadequate and available ones are expensive….Lack of good drinking water particularly in major towns is a major problem. All the streams and rivers are heavily affected by mining such that they are hardly drinkable. The population largely depends on water wells and few can afford the portable sold in shops. There is no tap or pipe borne water”[9]. This is how the major mining district of Kono[10] in Sierra Leone looks like. What the other mining parts of the country is like is everyone’s guess.

This picture is the same all over the country and worse scenarios are being developed in the new diamond finds in Kamakwie in the Northern region.

Human rights

One precarious human rights situation is the phenomenon of child miners in the diamond mines. A huge number of children estimated at some 10,000 between the ages of 6-18 are found in the mining pits[11]. There are no clearly defined child labour standards and only very limited piecemeal, isolated programmatic interventions to remove children from the mines and to provide them with alternatives (education, skills training) and their families (income generation) exist so far. Clearly, a policy framework is needed that provides for

· The development of a clear child labour standards and their monitoring/implementation

· The signing and ratification of the ILO Convention C182

· The sensitization of communities, families, miners, children and concerned institutions

· The programmatic/strategic intervention especially with access to education/skills training and alternative income to families

Women who are engaged in mining are corrupted and made to operate in illegality. Mining areas are apportioned inequitably to women leaving the rich areas to men only, sometimes under the guise of secret society laws. The women are discriminated against in holding political leadership positions such as becoming Paramount Chiefs. Women contestants in the last District Council elections were forced to withdraw their candidature in certain chiefdoms.

Early marriages are very much prevalent in the district as a result of the influence of the mining activities. Boys as young as seventeen or even below are married to girls as young as fifteen years. Teenage pregnancy is another prevalent issue. Some of the teenage marriages are forced marriages due to poverty in the home. Rape and other sexual offences are reportedly not high but prostitution rate is very high. Domestic violence is common occurrence with cases of such nature frequently reported in the police. In the remote areas it is hardly reported.

Education

The history of education in Sierra Leone is such that it is better developed, more concentrated and more accessible to people in other parts of the country-non/less mining areas. Look at what Green Scenery research came of with for Kono, the greatest mining district of the country district.

“The worst affected area of life in the district is education. This has a long history dating as far back as 1930 when mining was first introduced in the district. Since that time on to the war period, the people of the district put premium on mining than education. School going children were denied schooling for the mining pits. The girl child was discriminated against by not allowing her to go to school amongst the few who were sent to school. Thus education is at law ebb in the district. Even after the war when the attitude of the people seems to have changed in favor of education, the lack of educational facilities such as infrastructure for schools, learning equipment and conducive and encouraging environment for both schooling and working conditions of service, are making education still wanton in the district. The few schools are now highly populated with children but there are no trained and qualified teachers. A school of about eight hundred pupils have only one salaried teacher. Parents are compelled to voluntarily contribute to pay the temporary teachers to teach their children. Girl child education is still a problem. The few that go to school often drop out due to early pregnancy. Sex education and other sanitization programmes on such issues are hardly organized to help ameliorate these problems.

The unavailability of tertiary institutions such as teacher training colleges compounds the problems. Vocational institutions for technical education are to a large extent unavailable with only two starting now in the township of Koidu. The most lauded SABABU Education program is hardly visible in the district”[12].

Socio-cultural issues

The socio cultural disintegration of the mining communities is fast approaching alarming levels. The influx of immigrants both local and international in mining communities/districts has resulted in increases level of non-mining and anti-social activities including crimes, drug abuse larceny, murder, rape, indecent assault and exposures, prostitution vagrancy and the like. Even traditional leaders like local chiefs have been seem abandoning their responsibilities in their localities for mining pits in other parts of the country. Many sacred bushes/shrines have been desecrated and turned into mining sites. Needless to say that the increased level of lawlessness and the conflicting relationship among authorities and different sectors of society has often provided a fertile ground for conflicts and political manipulations.

To Be Continued