ECOSOMOL: Illicit Mining Rampant in Liberia’s Diamond Sector
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21.05.09, 11:05
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Mining
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The ECOWAS Civil Society Movement of Liberia (ECOSOMOL) has issued a report regarding widespread illicit diamond mining in the country.
According to the President of the ECOWAS Civil Society Movement of Liberia, Oretha T. Dennis, people from the sub-region have invaded the Liberian mining sector and are conducting massive illicit mining in Liberia, thereby undermining its economy.
Dennis noted that the Ministry of Lands, Mines and Energy is doing very little to monitor the country’s mining sector. According to ECOSOMOL, as a result of the Ministry’s failure to coordinate the sector, unaccountable numbers of diamonds leave the country illicitly on a daily basis.
ECOSOMOL also accused the Ministry that since the lifting of diamond sanctions, it has failed to realize the revenue generating capacity of the diamond sector in the country. This has resulted in a lack of employment and frustration on the part of some Liberians, who have emigrated to other countries such as Iraq, Pakistan and Somalia.
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By: Rachel Lieberman, Israel Diamond Industry Portal
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