Botswana becomes new hub for diamond certification amid G7 sanctions

Botswana has recently been designated as a certification center for rough diamonds aiming for export to G7 markets, complementing Belgium in this role. This development is significant, particularly as the G7 has been taking steps to curb the import of diamonds sourced from Russia, especially in light of the conflict resulting from international tensions. The decision came after extensive discussions between Botswana officials and the G7 Diamond Technical Team, with the government of Botswana expressing that their extensive experience in certification and verification under the Kimberley Process justifies their new position. The announcement coincided with the return of Botswana’s President Duma Boko and Minister of Minerals Bogolo Kenewendo from a diamond conference in Brussels. During the conference, Kenewendo also pointed out that Botswana, being the world's second-largest diamond producer, plays a crucial role in the global diamond industry. Previously, the limited verification center in Belgium caused significant disruptions in the diamond supply chain for African producers, creating delays and unexpected costs. With this new arrangement, Botswana aims to enhance flexibility in the certification process, a move that has been welcomed by industry experts. Hans Merket, a Belgian diamond industry researcher, indicated that establishing more certification points is a step towards a more balanced system for the G7, which may open the door to other African nations, such as Namibia and Angola, becoming future certification centers, too. The broader goal is to create stricter controls and higher ethical standards in the diamond sector. However, the response from civil society organizations suggests that this change may not fully resolve the challenges faced by African diamond producers. Jaff Bamenjo, coordinator for the Kimberley Process Civil Society Coalition, argued that merely incorporating Botswana as a verifier will not alleviate many of the supply chain problems affecting other African countries. The operations of the new certification center in Botswana are projected to begin early next year, indicating a positive shift for the certification process in the coming future.