BOTSWANA, Africa’s leading diamond producer, is pushing back against a recent Group of Seven (G7) mandate that requires all diamonds destined for G7 nations to be certified in Belgium.
President Mokgweetsi Masisi denounced the measure as unjust during a diplomatic gathering in Gaborone, stating, ‘We cannot agree to an attempt to undermine our quest for development by taking charge and responsibility of our own value addition of our resources.’
The G7, consisting of advanced economies like Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the United Kingdom, and the United States, introduced the traceability mechanism on March 1 to prevent the import of Russian diamonds amid concerns about financing the conflict in Ukraine. This initiative directs all diamond shipments to Antwerp, Belgium, for origin verification.
Masisi highlighted the additional costs and logistical challenges imposed by this directive, emphasising Botswana’s capability in verification and traceability within its own systems. ‘When we mine our diamonds here and we are certain they are mined here and you add another layer of cost, delay, and time… it’s not acceptable,’ he expressed.
The President also criticised the lack of consultation with African diamond-producing nations before implementing the measures. ‘They were essentially regulating our industry completely without our participation… You can’t do this without engaging us, particularly Botswana,’ Masisi asserted.
In response, Botswana, along with Angola and Namibia, jointly submitted a letter of protest to the G7. However, they have yet to receive a response from the group. Masisi highlighted the disruptions in diamond trade flow and associated costs resulting from the G7’s actions.
Jaff Bamenjo, from the Kimberley Process Civil Society Coalition, noted the importance of addressing the concerns of both African producers and the G7. ‘The main issue… is how much we accommodate the legitimate concerns of each other,’ Bamenjo stated, while criticising the G7 for not consulting African diamond producers from the outset.
Diamond industry researcher Hans Merket acknowledged the necessity of traceability measures while advocating for a response to African producers’ grievances. ‘A serious advancement of traceability in the diamond trade is long overdue,’ Merket affirmed, suggesting that recent adaptations could mitigate delays and manage added costs associated with the certification process.
The dispute underscores broader tensions between ensuring transparency and accountability in the diamond trade and respecting the autonomy of African diamond-producing nations. As diamond businesses express concerns over delays in customs clearance, the discourse intensifies, urging a balanced approach that accommodates the interests of all stakeholders involved.