The Angolan government has raised concerns about illegal diamond exploration, highlighting the potential risk it poses to the commercialization of Angolan diamonds in Europe and America.
The need to criminalize “garimpeiros” (artisanal miners) has been emphasized to address this issue.
Jânio Correia Vitor, the Secretary of State for Mineral Resources, stressed the international association of illegal diamond mining with human rights violations, warning of potential repercussions on diamond sales abroad. He emphasized the importance of being cautious to avoid jeopardizing sales in key markets.
During discussions on the proposed Law to Combat Illegal Mining Activity in parliament, Correia Vitor clarified that the aim is not to criminalize citizens but to target those involved in the illicit diamond exploration chain.
The illegal diamond mining activity, according to Correia Vitor, benefits individuals outside local communities, contrary to the government’s policies for community inclusion in semi-industrial activities.
The proposed law aims to empower judicial authorities to hold accountable those responsible for illegal mining activities.
Efforts are underway to address the issue, including renewing titles for artisanal diamond cooperatives supervised by Angolan citizens. However, challenges such as lack of investment have rendered many cooperatives inactive.
Correia Vitor highlighted the negative social and environmental impacts of illegal mining, including illegal immigration and environmental degradation. Despite contributing to the country’s GDP, illegal diamond mining poses significant challenges.
The government is collaborating with the National Diamond Company of Angola (ENDIAMA) to address these issues and attract investors. In 2023, taxes totaling 77.3 billion euros were collected from the diamond subsector, underscoring its economic significance.
