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Parties still mining diamonds illegally

    ABIDJAN

    The UN Security Council, which last week met to review the year-long ban on mining and trade of diamonds from Sierra Leone, warned that it was ready to extend the embargo, after noting that both armed opposition and government-backed forces were still illegally mining the precious stones.

    A statement from the Council released by its current President, Ambassador Moctar Ouane on Thursday, said by continuing to illegally extract diamonds, the opposition Revolutionary United Front (RUF) and pro-government Civil Defence Force (CDF) militia were gaining access to funds that might be used to buy weapons.

    Members emphasised the importance of resolution 1306, adopted on 5 July 2000, in the efforts to build peace in Sierra Leone and the region, the statement said.

    The members also welcomed continued efforts among West African countries with the support of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), to develop a region-wide certification regime and the establishment of the government of Sierra Leone Certificate of Origin regime, in curbing the flow of illicit diamonds out of Sierra Leone, Ouane said.

    This article was produced by IRIN News while it was part of the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs. Please send queries on copyright or liability to the UN. For more information: https://shop.un.org/rights-permissions

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