Sierra Leone this week sold one of the world's largest diamonds at an auction in New York, fetching a price of $6.5 million (€5.5 million).
The egg-sized, 709-carat diamond is one of the largest ever discovered in Sierra Leone, and between the 10th and 15th largest ever found.
The international diamond trading network that handled the auction, the Rapaport Group, said the stone had gone to British billionaire and jeweler Laurence Graff.
The government said Monday it will use the $3.9 million in tax revenue from the sale to fund clean water, electricity, schools, health centers and roads.
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Officials said they also hoped the sale will help combat the West African country's illicit diamond trade.
Editor's note: The article has been adapted from its original source.
