Sierra Leone Diamonds History Mining and What Visitors Should Know

Sierra Leone is famous for its diamonds. Complete guide to the diamond industry, blood diamonds history, the Kimberley Process, and responsible tourism considerations for 2026.

Sierra Leone and Diamonds

Sierra Leone's diamonds are globally renowned — both for their quality (some of the finest gem stones in the world) and for the dark chapter in which they fuelled one of Africa's most brutal civil conflicts. Understanding this history is essential context for any visitor and a story of how a country has moved — imperfectly but genuinely — toward responsible resource management.

The Diamonds: What and Where

Sierra Leone holds estimated deposits of approximately 83 million carats of gem-quality diamonds. Primary fields are in Kono District in the east. The Koidu area within Kono is the epicentre of industrial diamond mining. Alluvial deposits across a wider area have historically been worked by artisanal miners.

Notable Stones

The Star of Sierra Leone (968.9 carats, 1972) was the largest alluvial diamond ever found at the time of discovery. The Peace Diamond (709 carats, 2017) was found by a local pastor in Kono and notably handed to authorities — an international story that reflected a changed Sierra Leone.

Blood Diamonds: The History

During the 1991-2002 civil war, the RUF controlled Kono's diamond fields, using revenues to finance their campaign of terror. The term "blood diamonds" or "conflict diamonds" was coined largely from the Sierra Leone experience. The 2006 film "Blood Diamond" brought global attention, though mixing fact and fiction.

The Kimberley Process

The Kimberley Process Certification Scheme (2003), created directly in response to Sierra Leone and Angola, requires member countries to certify diamonds as conflict-free. Sierra Leone is a signatory. Current exports go through official channels with government certification. The artisanal sector is substantially reformed from the war era, though imperfect regulation continues.