The streets of Kono, Sierra Leone, are literally paved with diamonds. But it has brought residents little but misery. During the civil war, Charles Taylor occupied the town and took control of the mine. "We suffered a lot", states one resident. All over Africa, the story is the same. In an attempt to curb the conflict diamond trade, the EU introduced the Kimberley Process. "Each newly extracted diamond must get a certificate of origin. Without it, they cannot be traded", explains Global Witness's Corinna Gilfillan. But as this leaves the trade exclusively in the hands of governments, who issue the licenses, critics argue it encourages corruption. Even an EU representative admits: "the illegal trading of diamonds can never be completely avoided."

Key shots

16:16 model on a catwalk wearing a diamond studded basque
16:22 diamond rings
16:27 African worker sifting mud
16:38 a diamond camp in Sierra Leone
21:00 people carrying sacks on their head
21:19 newly built mosque financed by the Hezbollah
23:46 men sifting, standing in muddy water