The Kimberley Process (KP) failed to reach a consensus on broadening the definition of conflict diamonds at last week’s plenary in Dubai, according to industry organizations.
“While not unexpected, it is obviously a massive disappointment for civil society that, once again, the KP has failed to expand the conflict-diamond definition,” said Jaff Bamenjo, coordinator of the Civil Society Coalition (CSC), which represents nonprofit groups at the KP. “We know we sound like a broken record, and we really wish it were otherwise.”
The annual KP conference saw yet another attempt to revise the definition of conflict diamonds, which has faced criticism for years because it only addresses violence by rebel groups. Various new texts have been on the table for years, but the rules of the KP require all member countries to approve a change for it to take effect.
“There was not one single group blocking progress,” Bamenjo said in his closing remarks at the plenary on Friday. “Vetoes came from all sides, leading to a fundamental impasse.”
The World Diamond Council (WDC), which represents the industry at the KP, reported that a “wide majority” supported expanding the definition to include “violence carried out by armed groups beyond traditional rebel movements, including militias, mercenaries, organized criminal networks, private military and security companies, and other non-state actors.”
However, a “small number of KP participants blocked consensus on long-awaited reforms,” the WDC said Friday — taking a slightly different stance from the CSC.
“Most participants stood firmly behind Africa,” said WDC president Feriel Zerouki. “The setback came from a few, not from the Process itself. And while they halted progress today, they cannot halt the direction of travel.” KP chair Ahmed Bin Sulayem said a small number of KP participants did not support the new definition. “A handful of states have imported a geopolitical matter into a mechanism designed to prevent the very abuses they once helped define,” he argued.
Meanwhile, Ghana received approval as KP vice chair for 2026 and chair in 2027, but the position of chair for 2026 remains open. The United Arab Emirates (UAE) is this year’s “custodian chair.”
In addition, Abu Brima will take over from Bamenjo as coordinator of the CSC, the latter announced.
Image: A Kimberley Process certificate. (Antwerp World Diamond Centre)
Source : Rapaport