Namibia has reaffirmed its commitment to the Luanda Accord, calling for coordinated African action to protect and strengthen the natural diamond industry amid ongoing global market disruptions.
Industries, Mines and Energy Minister Modestus Amutse made the remarks during the Luanda Accord High-Level Follow-Up Meeting held on the sidelines of the Mining Indaba in Cape Town on Monday.
Amutse said Africa’s position as the world’s leading producer of natural diamonds places a responsibility on the continent to shape the future direction of the industry, including how natural diamonds are marketed and perceived globally.
“This position confers both great responsibility and opportunity, placing Africa at the heart of the global diamond value chain and underscoring the imperative for the continent to lead in shaping the future of the industry – including how natural diamonds are marketed, valued and perceived globally,” Amutse said.
He said Namibia remains committed to working with African diamond-producing countries, De Beers, global diamond centres and the Natural Diamond Council to address structural and market challenges affecting the sector.
Amutse said Namibia supports the Luanda Accord as a framework for developing a unified African strategy to promote natural diamonds and counter fragmented messaging in international markets.
“We must move beyond fragmented messaging and present a credible, compelling narrative, one that connects consumers to the tangible social and economic impact of natural diamonds on African communities,” he said.
The minister also highlighted Namibia’s regulatory environment, noting that the country’s diamond industry operates under strict legal and ethical standards aligned with international best practice.
He said market disruptions since 2022 require coordinated continental responses rather than isolated national measures, adding that policy harmonisation, ethical sourcing, traceability and transparency are essential to maintaining consumer confidence.
“Namibia reaffirms its unwavering commitment to the full implementation of the Luanda Accord and to working closely with our partners to secure a sustainable, resilient and unified future for the natural diamond industry, one that delivers lasting value for our people and safeguards the integrity of our shared heritage,” Amutse said.
The Luanda Accord, signed on 18 June 2025 in Angola, includes Angola, Botswana, Namibia, South Africa, the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Sierra Leone as primary country signatories. Industry organisations including the Antwerp World Diamond Centre, the African Diamond Producers Association, India’s Gem and Jewellery Export Promotion Council and the Dubai Multi Commodities Centre are also parties to the agreement.
Under the accord, signatories have committed to allocating 1% of annual rough diamond revenue towards global marketing initiatives led by the Natural Diamond Council, aimed at boosting consumer demand, rebuilding trust and highlighting the economic contribution of natural diamonds to mining communities in Africa and beyond.
