Diamond-Related African Conflicts: A Fact Sheet

Diamond-Related African Conflicts: A Fact Sheet

Order Code RS20800
January 30, 2001
CRS Report for Congress
Received through the CRS Web
Diamond-Related African Conflicts:
A Fact Sheet
Nicolas Cook
Analyst in African Affairs
Foreign Affairs, Defense, and Trade Division
Jessica Merrow
Research Associate
Foreign Affairs, Defense, and Trade Division
Summary
This fact sheet summarizes major demographic and spending trends that
characterize the on-going conflicts in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC),
Sierra Leone, and Angola.1 In each of these conflicts, contention over the control of
mineral wealth – particularly diamonds – and other natural resources is regarded as a
significant factor fueling hostilities. This fact sheet presents data on refugees; internally
displaced persons (IDPs); deaths; child soldiers; approximate percentage of territory held
by anti-government rebels; military spending; and international humanitarian spending.
This report will be updated as events warrant.
General Caveat on Conflict-related Statistics in Africa
In general, conflict-related statistics – including those contained in this fact sheet –
should be treated as rough estimates. This is particularly true for conflicts in Africa, where
many governments lack adequate resources to undertake statistical profiling, even in
peaceful settings. Many conflict-related figures are derived from statistical projections
based on aging data sets (past censuses, etc.), small rapid assessment survey samples, and
variable assumptions about demographic profiles resulting from "normal" levels of poverty,
disease, access to healthcare, and the like. In many cases, it is nearly impossible to
definitively differentiate between the effects of conflict, natural disaster, disease, and
general poverty. The figures below are derived from multiple information sources and from
1 For background on the relation between diamonds and conflict in Africa, see CRS Report
RL30751, Diamonds and Conflict: Policy Proposals and Background.
Congressional Research Service ˜ The Library of Congress

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studies employing a wide variety of research methodologies. With the above qualifications,
the following facts, figures and data sources relating to the three current diamond-related
African conflicts are given:
Sierra Leone
Refugees. Approximately 490,000 as of September 2000 (mostly in Guinea, Liberia
and Ivory Coast).2
Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs). 500,000 to over one million. 300,000
additional displacements due to May 2000 upsurge in fighting.3
Deaths. Estimates for total deaths related to conflict since 1991 range between
20,000 and 50,000.4
Child Soldiers. 5,000 to 5,400, in direct combat roles. 5,000 or more used in
combat support roles.5
Approximate Rebel-held Territory. One third to one half of the national
territory (multiple press accounts).
Military Spending. $11 million (1999); $46 million (FY1996/1997);6 $476.7
million appropriated by U.N. General Assembly for the United Nations Mission in Sierra
Leone (UNAMSIL), June 30, 2001 through July 1, 2001.7
Humanitarian Spending. $79 million estimated need for 2001.8
2 U.S. Agency For International Development (USAID), Sierra Leone - Complex Emergency Fact
Sheet #2, September 13, 2000.
3 Ibid.
4 USAID, Sierra Leone - Fact Sheet #2 and Project Ploughshare, Armed Conflicts Report 2000
[http://www.ploughshares.ca/content/ACR/ACR00/ACR00.html]. Systematic and repeated
incidents involving the mutilation, abduction, rape, and other human rights abuses of civilians have
been documented by international human rights groups and United Nations (U.N.) agencies.
Aggregate totals for such atrocities, however, are not available.
5 Amnesty International, Sierra Leone: Childhood - A Casualty of Conflict, August 31, 2000
[http://www.amnesty.ca/library/afr5106900.htm]; and World Bank Administered Multi-Donor
Trust Fund for the Sierra Leone Disarmament, Demobilization and Reintegration Program
Progress Report #3, June 30, 2000 , also available on the Internet and the World Bank's web site
[http://www.worldbank.org/afr/afth2/crrp/crrp_mdtfreport3.html].
6 International Institute for Strategic Studies, The Military Balance 2000-2001; Central Intelligence
Agency, The World Factbook 2000 [http://www.odci.gov/cia/publications/factbook].
7 Eighth report of the Secretary-General on the United Nations Mission in Sierra Leone
[S/2000/1199], December 15, 2000, page 9.
8 UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), UN Consolidated
Inter-Agency Appeal for Sierra Leone 2001, November 14, 2000. In 2000, a Consolidated
(continued...)

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Angola
Refugees. Over 340,000 in neighboring countries (November 2000 estimate).9
Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs). 1999: Approximately 1 million newly
displaced. 2000: Approximately 338,000 newly displaced; 2.7 million total displaced as of
late July 2000.10
Deaths. Minimum of 650,000 conflict-related deaths, 1974 through 1999.11
Child Soldiers. 5,000-7,000 estimated as of 1997; figure could be substantially
higher (various sources).
Approximate Rebel-held Territory. Varies. UNITA guerrilla tactics make much
of the country insecure; UNITA has been active in most parts of Angola during the past
year, and is believed to effectively control a large area adjacent to the Zambian border.
Military Spending. $1.005 billion in 1999, estimated; $1.2 billion
(FY1997/1998).12
Humanitarian Spending. $202 million estimated need for 2001.13
Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC)
Refugees. 162,000 in Uganda, Tanzania and Zambia (January 2001); estimated
310,000 in these and other neighboring states (November 2000); the DRC hosts 335,800
refugees from neighboring countries (December 2000).14
Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs). 1.8 million (November 2000; see
footnote 11).
8 (...continued)
Inter-Agency Appeal for $71 million yielded a 65.4% donor response.
9 Norwegian Refugee Council Global IDP Database Angola: Profile Summary.
10 OCHA, UN Consolidated Inter-Agency Appeal for Angola 2001, November 9, 2000 and Report
of the Secretary-General on the United Nations Office in Angola (S/2000/977), October 10, 2000.
11 Heidelberg Institute of International Conflict Research, Database KOSIMO 1945-1999; Energy
Information Administration, U.S. Department of Energy, Country Analysis Briefs, Angola.
12 International Institute for Strategic Studies, The Military Balance 2000-2001; Central
Intelligence Agency, The World Factbook 2000 [http://www.odci.gov/cia/publications/factbook].
13 OCHA, UN Consolidated Inter-Agency Appeal for Angola 2001, November 9, 2000. In 2000,
a Consolidated Inter-Agency Appeal for $260.6 million yielded a 52.5% donor response.
14 U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), Democratic Republic of the Congo in
Short, [2001 Global Appeal], December 2000; UNHCR, DR Congo: The Impact on Refugees,
January 2001.

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Deaths. In eastern DRC: 200,000 due directly to acts of violence; a total of 1.7
million direct and indirect war-related deaths were estimated. This estimate covers August
1998 through May 2000.15
Child Soldiers. Concise figures not available; child recruitment is frequently
reported as being common and widespread; 10,000 child soldiers were estimated to have
fought on behalf of the Alliance of Democratic Forces for Liberation in 1997.16
Approximate Rebel-held Territory. 50 to 60% (multiple press accounts).
Military Spending. $400 million (1999, estimated); $250 million (FY1997);17
Commitment authority of U.N. Organization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the
Congo (MONUC): $141.3 million gross July 2000 through June 2001.18
Humanitarian Spending. $139.4 million estimated need for 2001.19
15 International Rescue Committee, Mortality Study, Eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, May
2000, [http://www.theirc.org/mortality.cfm].
16 International Coalition to Stop the Use of Child Soldiers, The Use of Children as Soldiers in
Africa: A Country Analysis of Child Recruitment and Participation in Armed Conflict, August
14, 2000.
17 International Institute for Strategic Studies, The Military Balance 2000-2001; Central
Intelligence Agency, The World Factbook 2000 [http://www.odci.gov/cia/publications/factbook].
18 U.N., Democratic Republic of the Congo - MONUC Facts and Figures; available online at
[http://www.un.org/Depts/dpko/monuc/monucF.htm].
19 OCHA, U.N. Consolidated Inter-Agency Appeal for Democratic Republic of the Congo 2001,
November 8, 2000. In 2000, a Consolidated Inter-Agency Appeal yielded $77 million in donor
assistance.