The Kimberley Process (KP) has officially lifted the restrictions on rough diamond exports from the Central African Republic (CAR), which were imposed in 2013 due to the country’s civil war.
The Central African Republic, considered one of the poorest countries in the world, continues to face challenges in achieving peace and stability. However, the government and its allies have managed to push Muslim rebel groups out of the country’s main cities. In light of the improved security situation, the Kimberley Process plenary meeting, held on Friday (November 15) in the UAE, voted in favor of lifting the restrictions, allowing CAR to fully rejoin the Kimberley Process as a full member.
The ban on CAR, implemented 11 years ago, prohibited the export of diamonds from “red zones,” which represent approximately two-thirds of the country’s mining areas. From now on, rough diamonds can be exported and imported from these regions.
Ahmed Bin Sulayem, chair of the Kimberley Process on behalf of the UAE, played a key role in lifting the sanctions. He traveled to CAR and encouraged the Kimberley Process to send a review team to expedite the country’s reintegration into the global diamond trade.
CAR’s Minister of Mines and Geology, Rufin Benam-Beltoungou, expressed joy and satisfaction with the decision to lift the sanctions on his country.
Feriel Zerouki, President of the World Diamond Council (WDC), addressed the issue in her closing speech at the 2024 Kimberley Process plenary. She expressed hope for the next steps that would help strengthen the country’s framework and communities. Zerouki reaffirmed the Kimberley Process’s commitment to promoting a responsible, sustainable, and fair diamond industry.
In 2020 – the most recent year for which Kimberley Process data is available – CAR exported a total of 50,433 carats of rough diamonds from “green zones” at an average price of $142 per carat, with a total value of less than $8 million, according to IDEX Online.
