Sierra Leone Charts a New Diamond Story

Jun 5, 2025 | Jill Newman
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Sierra Leone is historically rich in diamond deposits. They are found largely in alluvial mines, where miners sift through layers of mud and gravel for rough diamonds that were moved through the river’s currents. Diamonds were first found in Sierra Leone’s Kono district in 1930, but a lack of governance and corruption meant that few miners benefited from their country’s bounty. Then came the two-decade-long civil war, where diamonds were illegally trafficked to support rebel groups.