Central African President Faustin Archange Touadéra has just completed a European tour where he has invited mining companies to invest in diamond production in his country.
By Achille Mbog Pibasso
The diamond is one of the main mineral resources of the Central African Republic because the country derives its main income. The socio-political instability with the multiplication of the armed bands that skirmish this country no longer allows a diamond exploitation in optimal conditions. With a production that oscillates between 350,000 and 400,000 carats per year, the Central African Republic exploits, according to experts, less than 1% of its mining potential.
The authorities who hope for a return to peace with the Khartoum agreements signed last March, which finally led to the formation of an inclusive government, do not mean wasting time. With this in mind, the President of the Republic stayed in Belgium from 02 to 05 April 2019, where he met, in Antwerp, Nishit Parekh and Stéphane Fischer, respectively Chairman of the Board of Directors and President of the World Center for Human Rights. Diamond (World Diamonds Center) to discuss the issue. The Central African president then met the diamond companies before launching a plea for the lifting of the embargo imposed on Central African diamonds imposed by the Kimberley Process. A decision made almost five years ago by this international body that regulates the diamond trade around the world in order to fight against the sale of blood diamonds in the Central African Republic.
Amendment of the Mining Code
According to reliable information, armed bands use this ore to finance their terrorist activities. This is why President Touadéra urged the world leaders in the diamond sector, like Deebers and Alrosa, to come and settle in the Central African Republic, which constitute “solutions to the revival of the Central African diamond trade, once famous for its quality, must be found together with the sector partners “.
In this perspective, the President of the Republic has undertaken to carry out reforms, including the amendment of the decree implementing the Mining Code, ordering the purchasing offices to export at least 1.75 billion FCFA of diamonds per quarter as well as suspension or withdrawal of approval for buying offices that would not comply with this provision. An official presence according to the Head of State that would allow “all existing buying offices can demonstrate their ability to formalize exports and withdraw from any engagement in the informal circuit.”
Actions to effectively combat looting and trafficking in the sector, including armed gangs who are a source of funding.
