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Which civil wars in Africa brought worldwide attention to blood diamonds during the 1990s?

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Diamonds-for-weapons trade in Africa — Blood diamond Map illustrating the diamonds-for-weapons trade that took place in Africa near the end of the 20th century.

During the 1990s, civil wars in Angola, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and Sierra Leone brought worldwide attention to the issue of blood diamonds. These conflicts involved rebel groups operating in diamond-rich areas, selling diamonds to fund their military actions against recognized governments.1

The United Nations (UN) defined blood diamonds as any diamonds mined in areas controlled by forces opposed to a legitimate government and sold to finance military action against that government. The proceeds from these diamonds were used to purchase arms and war materials, leading to extreme violence and civilian suffering.1

The illicit trade of these diamonds, which were virtually indistinguishable from legitimate gems once cut and polished, raised global concerns. This led to the establishment of the Kimberley Process in 2003, a certification scheme designed to verify that rough diamonds are conflict-free.12