But Washington is currently currying favour with Liberian President Charles Taylor, who wields tremendous influence over the RUF, and refused to accept an extension of the ban to diamond exports through Liberia. Fear of militant Middle Eastern governments and organisations cashing in on the potential wealth of Africa has hastened Western intervention in diamond-producing regions of Africa. After all it is an open secret that Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi is Sankoh's and Taylor's main benefactor, and despite his recent rapprochement with the West, he is still viewed suspiciously. The Shi'ite Amal militia in Lebanon, led by Sierra Leonean-born Nabih Berri, is known to have close links with Lebanese diamond dealers. We are only now beginning to comprehend the full magnitude of the damaging impact such wars inflict on civilian populations and economies.
Western intervention is essentially about protecting Western interests.
This should come as no big surprise. The notion that the West is waging war in Africa for Africa's sake is utterly ridiculous.