The Central African Republic (CAR) on Tuesday urged the global diamond trading regulatory body to lift its decade-long export embargo. The Kimberley Process (KP), led by the United Arab Emirates, began its plenary assembly in Dubai.
The CAR seeks to end the embargo imposed since a civil war began in 2013, following years of violence and instability. Mines and Geology Minister Rufin Benam Beltoungou emphasized his government’s commitment to peace and meeting the criteria for lifting the embargo, stating that the security situation has improved and traceability requirements have been met.
For the first time since 2015, KP experts assessed the situation on the ground. Although civil conflict has diminished since 2018, the country continues to experience violence and remains impoverished. The experts visited mining sites to ensure compliance with international standards aimed at preventing the export of “blood diamonds.”
Paul-Crescent Beninga, a KP’s Civil Society Working Group member, expressed cautious optimism about the KP’s report, noting that while the expert delegation’s dynamic was positive, the outcome was uncertain.
The CAR’s gem-quality diamond and gold deposits are vital resources. Various international groups have issued mining permits, including those linked to the Wagner mercenary group. The impact of sanctions has been significant; in 2011, the CAR earned 29.7 billion CFA francs (about $50 million) from diamond exports, but last year, this figure dropped to just 324.3 million CFA francs.
Luc Florentin Simplice Brosseni Yali, director general of the KP’s permanent secretariat in Bangui, stated that sanctions should have been lifted after the constitutional order was restored in March 2016, but only partially lifted in 2015. Currently, one-third of the CAR’s diamond mining zones are “green” zones that can export, while the others remain sanctioned.
Brosseni Yali highlighted the dire conditions in production regions and suggested that restoring normal economic activity could help promote peace by providing alternatives to youth involvement in armed conflict. He noted that during the KP assessment, he witnessed young people and women pleading for the sanctions to be lifted.
He pointed out that the restrictions have primarily harmed the government, as rebel groups continue to exploit mining fields, leading to a contraband system for diamond exports.
During the last UN General Assembly, President Faustin Archange Touadera called for the complete lifting of the embargo, asserting that the country is now “relatively stable.” However, the UN force MINUSCA reported ongoing volatility due to armed clashes over mining access and control of major routes.
An International Monetary Fund team acknowledged security progress after a recent visit but also noted a challenging business environment, regulatory uncertainty, and persistent insecurity in certain mining areas. The KP’s meeting in Dubai, running until Friday, is the second gathering of the year for KP participants and observers.
