Boko Calls for Botswana-Angola Alliance to Protect Natural Diamond Value

GABORONE, Botswana — Botswana President Duma Boko has called for a strategic alliance with Angola to protect the value of natural diamonds and strengthen the bargaining power of the two major African diamond producers in the global market.

President Boko said Botswana and Angola should deepen cooperation in the diamond sector as part of efforts to restore the industry and ensure that countries producing the precious stones derive greater value from their mineral wealth.

He argued that the term “diamond” should be reserved for naturally occurring diamonds, with synthetic stones clearly distinguished from natural gems in the marketplace.

Using Champagne as an example, Boko asserted that products with different origins should not be marketed under the same identity, arguing that natural diamonds require similar protection from competition posed by laboratory-created alternatives.

The push comes as Botswana seeks greater control over its diamond industry, including efforts to acquire a stake in De Beers, one of the world's largest diamond companies.

The Botswana President said increased participation by producer countries in the industry was important in protecting national interests and ensuring that diamond wealth delivers broader benefits to their populations.

Beyond the diamond sector, the Botswana leader called for expanded economic cooperation with Angola, saying the relationship between the two countries could unlock opportunities in trade and other sectors.

He said closer ties could also contribute to regional integration and advance Africa's broader efforts to gain greater control over its natural resources, processing capacity and mineral value chains.

Botswana and Angola are among Africa's leading diamond producers, making cooperation between the two countries potentially significant as the global industry faces changing consumer preferences, competition from lab-grown diamonds and pressure to increase the share of value retained by producing countries.

Boko's proposal therefore places greater producer cooperation at the centre of efforts to protect the natural-diamond industry while strengthening Africa's ability to capture more economic value from its mineral resources.