blood diamonds and africas armed conflict summary review

5 Compliance with IHL therefore has the potential to limit the impact of organized crime perpetrated by the parties to the conflict on the civilian population in situations of armed conflict. 4 In addition, activities connected with organized crime can amount to violations of IHL and other international crimes.

3 An analysis of this conflict also demonstrates how respect for international humanitarian law (IHL) may contribute to reducing the impact of organized crime in areas affected by armed conflict.Īlthough IHL is aimed at limiting the effects of armed conflicts rather than addressing organized crime, IHL can be directly applicable to such criminal conduct where there is a sufficient nexus between the conduct and the conflict, especially when perpetrated by the parties to the armed conflict. 1 This link has been particularly noted since the 1990s 2 and was keenly demonstrated in the role of diamond smuggling in the armed conflict in Sierra Leone that took place between 19. Organized crime fuels armed conflict, making the situation more protracted, more violent and increasing the hardships of those living in affected areas.

An important tool in securing this compliance is the influence of other States not party to the conflict, further to their obligation to ensure respect for IHL.

Ensuring compliance with IHL may therefore reduce the impact of these activities in armed conflicts. This led to further violence connected with the conflict and breaches of IHL. In this conflict, a symbiosis in violence was created, with diamond smuggling being essential to achieve the parties’ military objectives, and those objectives being increasingly shaped by involvement in diamond smuggling. This article aims to demonstrate that respect for international humanitarian law (IHL) may help reduce the impact of organized crime in areas affected by armed conflict through a case study of the conflict in Sierra Leone (1991–2002).

Blood diamonds and africas armed conflict summary review