Botswana, a major African diamond producer, will join Antwerp as an origin certifier of rough diamonds exported to the Group of Seven (G7), which banned imports of Russian diamonds earlier this year.
This move aims to address concerns raised by African diamond-producing nations and ensure fair participation in the new certification system.
The initial plan required all diamonds to pass through Antwerp, Europe’s diamond hub, for verification under a new tracing system.
However, producers such as Angola, Botswana, Namibia, and diamond mining giant De Beers criticized the mechanism, arguing it would disproportionately impact African economies.
Under the revised framework, Botswana will establish its own export certification process. According to a joint statement released on Wednesday, “Botswana and the G7 diamond technical team are now crafting a roadmap to address any identified gaps, with plans to make the export certification node fully operational in Botswana by next year.”
The G7’s ban on direct imports of Russian diamonds took effect on January 1, followed by a ban on diamonds of Russian origin entering via third countries in March.
The tracing system, originally scheduled for launch on September 1, has faced delays, with the European Union postponing implementation to March 2025.
Botswana’s inclusion as a certifier is seen as a key step in salvaging the ban’s implementation while addressing the economic concerns of African producers. It also signals a shift toward greater inclusivity in global diamond trade regulations.
