Over the course of its mandate, the UN disarmed more than 75,000 ex-fighters, including about 7,000 child soldiers;
assisted in holding national and local government elections, which enabled people to participate in decisions that affected their daily lives; helped to rebuild the country’s police force to its pre-war strength and contributed towards rehabilitating the infrastructure and bringing government services to local communities. The UN also helped the government stop illicit trading in diamonds and regulate the industry. During the war, rebels had used money from “blood” or “conflict” diamonds to buy weapons which then fuelled the conflict. Now diamonds have become an engine of
growth, with government income from diamonds soaring from just $10 million in 2000 to $160 million in 2004, according the International Monetary Fund figures.