The Sierra Leone Civil War begins, creating brutal conflict that would influence the events depicted in Blood Diamond.
The United Nations imposes sanctions and bans imports of blood diamonds to reduce funding of rebel groups like the RUF in Sierra Leone.
Efforts culminate in the Kimberley Process to certify the origin of rough diamonds to combat the trade in conflict diamonds.
The civil war in Sierra Leone officially ends after nearly 11 years of conflict, reducing the trade of conflict diamonds in the region.