By International Crisis Group. 2010. The Central African Republic’s diamond sector is increasingly used to enrich elites and reinforce current political leaders rather than alleviate poverty and inequality. In particular, recent laws grant the president exclusive control over the granting of concessions and mining rights. This has expanded the number of dangerous illegal mines, incentivized smuggling and corruption, and fueled ethnic divisions, setting the stage for armed groups to easily recruit new members. By reforming the diamond sector, the government can avoid a worsening “conflict diamonds” scenario. Wider application of international accountability mechanisms such as the Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative coupled with the strengthening of artisanal miners’ unions could avoid a downward cycle of conflict. Download the article: [PDF]