Watchdog backs end to Ivory Coast 'blood diamond' ban

[World News Headlines -]

View attachment 7849​

Global diamond watchdog, the Kimberley Process, on Friday gave its backing for the lifting of a 2005 UN embargo on diamond sales from Ivory Coast. The world body first imposed an arms embargo in 2004 and then a ban on trading in rough diamonds was added the following year, as a rebellion divided the country. President Alassane Ouattara won fiercely contested polls in 2010. Ivory Coast, which is the world's leading cocoa producer, is the only country still with a UN Security Council ban on sales of its stones.

Continue reading...