Africa is commonly called "The Heart of the World"; if this were interpreted literally, our heart has a serious condition that is not receiving the attention it so desperately deserves. The purpose of conflict diamonds is simple; they are used as currency to purchase armaments of warring factions and warlords and fuel civil wars in unstable countries, as well as continued guerrilla tyranny in countries such as Angola and more famously Sierra Leone. When addressing the issue of conflict diamonds mined in Sierra Leone, it is crucial to understand the geography and civil and political aspects of the country. Blood diamonds often have a misunderstood meaning, and the definition of what they are requires a clear explanation. The brutal process of acquiring diamonds begins with the actions of a greed-driven rebel against executives of diamond companies seeking to extend their control over the international diamond market. Even with the implementation of the Kimberly Process by the United Nations, there are some weak links in the chain that make it very easy to circumvent laws prohibiting the purchase of conflict diamonds. Finally, slave laborers, in most cases children, are subjected to horrific working conditions and extreme abuse. The issue of conflict diamonds is a complicated topic that involves civil war and forced labor and leaves an ominous cloud of transgression over Sierra Leone, as well as numerous other diamond-rich countries. Sierra Leone, located on the west coast of northwestern Africa, is half the size of the state of Illinois with a total area of ​​approximately 30,000 (state) miles. Coastal cities are often the most populated, with the capital Freetown, with a population of more than 1 million people, located in the northwestern part of the country. Sierra......middle of paper......s. United Nations Department of Public Information, 21 March 2007. Web. 25 February 2011. .Fofana, Lansana. "Children working in the mines of Sierra Leone." British broadcasting company. BBC, 28 August 2003. Web. 21 April 2011. Fofana, Lansana. "Child miners: legacies of the conflict". Inter Press Service. Inter Press Service news agency, May 7, 2009. Web. April 21, 2011. Hoyt, Alia. "How the African diamond trade works." How things work. United Nations Department of Public Information, June 2008. Web. 25 February 2011. "The Kimberly Trial." Global witness. Global Witness Foundation, February 2007. Web. April 21, 2011. Schure, Teri. “Bloody diamonds are still blood diamonds.” World press. World Press, May 14, 2010. Web. February 26. 2011. .