During the Intra-Africa Dialogue on Rough Diamonds Beneficiation and Value Addition at Victoria Falls in Zimbabwe on Wednesday, the Deputy Minister of Mines and Mineral Resources, Umar Napoleon Koroma, has strongly condemned the exportation of diamonds from diamond-rich African countries to advanced nations in the world.
Speaking as a guest speaker, Mr Napoleon, stressed the disadvantages of exporting diamonds from these African countries including his nation, saying the exportation of diamonds from diamond-rich countries is “an outdated practice of dig and ship.”
In so far, he argued that the practice does not increase revenues to the countries, thus lamenting that the practice has left these Africa countries bare to the hands of the foreign giants who buy the minerals.
Speaking against the foreign exploitation of Africa’s natural resources, he asserted that only small number of countries like South Africa, Botswana, Namibia, and Angola, have been able to add value to their rough diamonds and the proceeds have impacted their economies over the years.
He emphasized the significance of establishing local diamond beneficiation industries, adding that this will create competitiveness in the global market and will put Africa ahead in the global market.
His key focus, according to his speech, seeks to suggest a creation of an industry in Africa where rough diamonds can be processed into finished product.
Also, he suggested for the adoption of cutting-edge technologies as he believes this will effectively be at the apex of achieving the goal of fostering diamond-replenishing in these diamond-rich countries.
“It’s of utmost importance that beneficiation and value-addition process within the diamond value chain take place within the respective countries to maximize economic contribution,” he expressed.
There are 15 diamond-mining countries in Africa and Sierra Leone is among the countries yet faced with a struggling economy.
In 2022, GlobalData identified the country as the eight-largest producer of diamonds which indicated that over the five years to 2021, diamond production had increased in the country by a CAGR of 31%, and projection of a 2% rise by CAGR between 2022 and 2026.
The country’s diamonds, popularly mined in Koidu, Kono district and Tongo Field, Kenema district in the eastern province, is infamously called the “Blood Diamonds,” after the country’s 11-years civil war.
Regardless of the mining activities ongoing in these parts of the country, artisanal miners and majority of the villagers living nearby are deeply coated in penury thus struggling to put rice on a table.
Despite the sharp ugly realities, Mr Napoleon owed the view that diamond-rich countries should enact new laws and policy frameworks that would reflect the will of the citizens thus stressing the essence of providing the poor a better living condition.