Global Witness - Breaking the links between natural resources, conflict and corruption
For a Few Dollars More
Report – 17/04/2003
How al Qaeda easily infiltrated diamond trading
networks, taking advantage of illicit trading structures, weak government
and trade regulations, organised criminal networks and politically corrupt
regimes to raise funds for al Qaeda operatives and to launder significant
sums of money.
Owing to the size of this report Global Witness have divided it into two sections.
pages 1-50 presents an overview of Al Qaeda and its history and also looks at the precedent set by other terrorist organisations in funding their operations from diamonds.
pages 50-96 presents detailed and original evidence gathered from Global Witness investigations showing how Al Qaeda systematically moved into diamond trading in a coordinated and planned effort to launder and move funds.
Downloads
Latest Publications
February 2010
Global Witness Vacancy - Senior Climate Campaigner
Global Witness is recruiting for an experienced senior campaigner to work with two of the Founder Directors, to shape and implement Global Witness' new Climate Campaign. The campaign is an advocacy based campaign on climate change and energy security.
Senate shines welcome spotlight on U.S. facilitation of corruption
A senate subcommittee hearing this week will expose how foreign politicians have used the services of American lawyers, bankers, lobbyists and other professionals, to bring millions of suspect dollars into the country.
January 2010
New report urges UN to learn lessons on resource-fuelled wars
The UN and Member States must do more to address the role of natural resources in incentivising, financing and preventing resolution of conflict, according to a new report from Global Witness, which draws on lessons from countries including the DRC, Liberia and Sierra Leone.
Global Witness launches pioneering forest transparency website
Natural-resource campaign group Global Witness is today publishing the first ever Forest Sector Transparency Report Card via a dedicated website, www.foresttransparency.info. The launch will take place at an illegal logging update meeting today, hosted by Chatham House in London.
Proposed changes to Liberian forest laws would open way for devastating logging and slash government revenues
Changes to Liberia's forestry law proposed by the Liberian Timber Association would dramatically reduce revenue for the state and are not in the best interests of the country.
Ghana controversy shows need to shine a light on oil deals
A controversy over allegations of corruption in the oil industry, which broke last week in Ghana, shows the need for much greater openness in the way in which companies gain access to the oil reserves of developing countries.
