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For ages human beings have placed great value in relatively useless gems and knickknack items, whether they are expensive stones or minerals, have relatively little value other than their visual attraction, as well as their scarcity. Of these metals and stones the diamond has been the center of individuals in the modern era; these small, carbon pieces have been valued for the beauty, and for their supposed rarity. Humans have looked far and wide for gems that could be collected and turned into jewelry. However, diamonds, rather than helping the growth of many African nations have only served to be a foundation of conflict instead. Companies such as De Beers and others have contributed to the death and destruction caused in many parts of Africa, in particular Sierra Leone, Angola, and Republic of Congo. These countries continue to suffer the effects of civil war which are funded through diamonds. Angola and the Democratic Republic of the Congo being big producers, sparking international concern that diamonds are being traded illegally to fund civil wars in Africa. Diamonds obtained from regions in the midst of internal strife, have led to the deaths of more than half a million people. Significant diamond production began after an