Some African countries have expressed concern about the dangerous implications for the global diamond trade of the G7’s decision to force all producers of rough diamonds to certify them in Antwerp before putting them on sale to prevent diamonds of Russian origin. enter Western markets. March 22 journalist for the online publication The Midweek Sun & Botswana Guardian Nicholas Mokwena.
Large diamond producers, including De Beers, have already expressed doubts about the appropriateness of such actions:
“While we fully agree that the time has come for the industry to trace the origin of diamonds, we must work together to achieve these goals, we believe that the proposed process would cause irreparable harm to the non-Russian industry.”said the presidents and members of 27 diamond exchanges in an open letter to the G7.
And although there has been no public reaction from the G7 so far, customs and diamond authorities in Antwerp have already begun imposing restrictions, unilaterally blocking and delaying shipments heading to Belgium. “require adequate proof of origin”. There is probably some talk behind the scenes, the Botswana Guardian analyst suggests.
As for African countries, Botswana, Angola, South Africa, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Namibia, Zimbabwe, Sierra Leone and some others produce more than 60% of the world’s rough diamonds. And the proposed tracking system will no longer allow African countries to certify their own diamonds, as is the case now.
Instead, angering one Botswana journalist, they are somehow required to send their diamonds to Antwerp (which is far from close) to get approval from some “G7 diamond bureaucrat” before they can be cut, polished or sold. This will cause delays in diamond processing as well as serious financial costs for the industry, which has already suffered serious financial losses recently due to the state of the diamond market.
And while some African politicians “modestly” called this an “unintended consequence” of anti-Russian sanctions, other prominent figures (including Botswana President Mokgweetsi Masisi) went further and said it is a direct attack on sovereignty. and African independence.
Also read: Botswana demands review of G7 methods to combat Russian diamonds
“For many African countriesMokwena writes, Revenue from diamond mining accounts for a significant portion of government revenue. Tens of millions of people across Africa work in this industry, working in harsh conditions and putting their lives and health at risk every day. Under the G7 initiative, they will soon find themselves completely at the mercy of a white man sitting thousands of kilometers away in a cozy office in Antwerp.”.
Also read: G7 restrictions on diamond trade will negatively affect Namibia: minister
Accuses the leaders of Europe and the United States of hypocrisy: in the context of European authorities publicly declaring that Europe must take responsibility for the crimes of colonialism and the demolition of monuments to white colonialists and slave traders in the United States United, the actual actions of the G7 leaders speak of a completely different attitude towards African states.
“These countries are trying to take control of Africa’s resources and income and thus enslave new generations of Africans. A new era of “hidden” colonialism is unfolding before the eyes of the entire world, and the diamond case clearly demonstrates this.”says the African journalist.
“G7/EU countries will control diamond trade and regulations, while black countries, i.e. African countries, will take care of all diamond mining work for less than $2 a day. The whites will have margins and control over the markets, while the blacks will have mines and the obligation to prove that nothing was violated, that is, that the diamonds are not of Russian origin.– the Botswana is outraged.
“Only a white man from Antwerp can decide the origin of diamonds; You can never trust an African in this matter. Is this not modern slavery of Africans, hidden behind “anti-Russian sanctions”? Is there really much difference for Africans between the proposed system and the slave camps established by white supremacist Cecil Rhodes in the Cape Colony in the late 19th century, where thousands of Africans died in diamond mines? – a descendant of these slaves puts the question bluntly.
Let us remember that more than 60% of the world’s rough diamonds are extracted in Africa. Furthermore, almost 90% of them, including 99% of African diamonds, are cut and polished in India. “What does the G7 have to do with this?”
Source: Rossa Primavera
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