Who Buys Blood Diamonds May 2026

Rebel factions in countries like Angola, Sierra Leone, and the Central African Republic (CAR) directly seize diamond mines and sell the stones to arms traffickers to fund military campaigns.

"Blood diamonds"—or —are rough diamonds mined in war zones and sold to finance insurgencies, terrorism, or illegal armed groups fighting against legitimate governments. Despite the implementation of the Kimberley Process (KP) in 2003, which aimed to curb their trade, blood diamonds still find their way into the legitimate market. who buys blood diamonds

In the 1990s, blood diamonds constituted up to 15% of the global trade, generating huge profits from consumer sales. 3. Companies and State-Linked Entities Rebel factions in countries like Angola, Sierra Leone,

These stones are often smuggled across borders into neighboring countries. There, they are mixed with legally mined, KP-certified stocks and sold on the open market, masking their origin. In the 1990s, blood diamonds constituted up to

Those who buy or profit from blood diamonds include middlemen, criminal syndicates, and, often unknowingly, international retailers and consumers. 1. Illicit Traders and Smugglers

Because blood diamonds can be mixed with legitimate stocks and subsequently cut and polished, they become virtually identical to non-conflict diamonds, making them difficult to detect once they reach consumers.