Editor’s Note
This article examines the role of the Kimberley Process in curbing the trade of conflict diamonds, with a focus on its implementation and oversight mechanisms in the Central African Republic.
The Kimberley Process (KP) brings together governments, civil society, and industry with the aim of reducing the existence of conflict diamonds (rough diamonds used to finance wars waged by rebels aiming to destabilize governments). In the Central African Republic (CAR), the Permanent Secretariat of the Kimberley Process (SPPK) is tasked with overseeing national internal control activities and the certification of rough diamonds in compliance with KP requirements. After the liberation of certain mining towns in the country previously controlled by rebels, the government established focal points. However, Russian and Syrian mercenaries from the Wagner Group, who are participating alongside the national army in its offensive against the rebels, continue to pressure these focal points, notably in Bria, in the Haute-Kotto region.
Following the recent deterioration of security conditions in the country, the World Diamond Council (WDC) and the Antwerp World Diamond Center (AWDC) called in a statement published on February 24, 2021, for actors in the global diamond trade to exercise great caution when handling rough diamonds that could originate from the Central African Republic (CAR).
Faced with this increased scrutiny from the international community on Central African diamonds, the government wants to accelerate responses to the minimum requirements of the certification scheme. Thus, one month ago, the government established the focal point of the Permanent Secretariat of the Kimberley Process (SPPK) in Bria, in the Haute-Kotto region. But since its establishment, the members of this focal point have been constantly receiving calls from Russian and Syrian mercenaries from the Wagner Group who are in the town. Not a day goes by without them trying to obtain authorization from the focal point to access mining sites. But the focal point members try to make them understand that their work is much more administrative than field visits. Even the captain of the FACA soldiers in Bria also tries to take the side of the Russian and Syrian mercenaries, in vain. Since last week, the pressure on the focal points has increased to the point that they are threatening to resign.
It is worth recalling that a sub-prefecture is declared compliant with the Kimberley Process if the area is under government control, if there is proof of the absence of systematic activity by armed groups impacting diamond mining, if the security situation allows for the free movement of goods and people, and if the implementation of controls is effective.