Blood Diamonds: History

Sierra Leone's history

1991 -- Former army Corporal Foday Sankoh leads Revolutionary United Front (RUF) attacks on Sierra Leone border towns from Liberia.

1992 -- RUF starts to target civilians in Sierra Leone, their hallmark being amputations. 120,000 flee to Guinea.

1994 -- RUF takes over Sierra Leone diamond areas. The capital Freetown is threatened. More than 50,000 have been killed and about half the country's 4.5 million people have been displaced.

1995 -- RUF beaten back from Freetown and diamond areas liberated.

1996 -- Sierra Leone elections marred by RUF violence. Ahmed Tejan Kabbah becomes president. RUF and Kabbah sign a peace accord.

1997 -- Soldiers release 600 prison inmates and seize power to form the Armed Forces Ruling Council. Kabbah flees. Major Johnny Paul Koroma, a former coup plotter, becomes chairman and invites RUF to join government.

1998 -- ECOMOG (Economic Community Cease-fire Monitoring Group) launches offensive on Freetown driving out AFRC/RUF. Kabbah returns. Sierra Leone armed forces disbanded. AFRC/RUF continue to attack towns and villages throughout country. U.N. peacekeepers sent in.

1999 -- AFRC/RUF attack Freetown killing 6,000 civilians before ECOMOG push them back. Peace setllement agreed. Foday Sankoh given role in government. U.N. approves 6,000 peacekeeping force.

2000 -- RUF kidnap 500 peacekeepers. UK sends in paratroopers. Sankoh detained. U.N. imposes global embargo on diamond exports from Sierra Leone.

Angola's history

1992 -- After 14 years of civil war, elections held and MPLA win, but a presidential runoff is required as the vote is closely split between MPLA's Eduardo do Santos and UNITA's Jonas Savimbi. Election result rejected by UNITA before second election, and civil war continues.

1993 -- U.N. reports up to 1,000 people dying every day, more than in any other conflict in the world at the time.

1994 -- Lusaka Protocol is signed, but fighting continues. Joint Commission set up comprising the U.N., government and UNITA, with U.S., Portugal and Russia as observers.

1996 -- Fighting continues in diamond areas.

1997 -- Serious violations of the cease-fire, including attacks on civilians by both UNITA and the government. U.N. freezes UNITA bank accounts and closes their overseas offices.

1998 -- Fighting escalates. Both sides lay mines around their postions including diamond reserves. U.N. prohibits export of unofficial diamond exports.

1999 -- Diamonds worth $150 million produced in conflict areas and $468 million from non-conflict areas.