It was a deal that suited everyone. Kabbah would be restored to power, Diamond Works would be able to resume production in Kono and Saxena would be given the opportunity to acquire highly desirable mining leases in Sierra Leone. However, a major breach in security was to foil the plot before any further arrangements could be made. Kabbah moved quickly to distance himself from all the parties concerned, and officially denied all knowledge of the scheme. Had he been formally implicated, it would certainly have damaged his reputation as a statesman and as a former official of the United Nations.
Diamonds are undoubtedly the key to power in Sierra Leone.
They are vital to the maintenance of patronage and the successful implementation of political strategy. In an unpredictable socio-economic environment the value of diamonds as a currency of convenience is undisputed. Small, easy to conceal and incredibly durable, the commodity can be exchanged throughout the world for cash. In the clandestine world of arms and illegal drug sale it presents a method of payment that is almost impossible to trace. In Sierra Leone, diamonds are the major foreign exchange earner for the country.