Remarks by Minister Frans Kapofi at the Kimberley Process Ministerial Meeting

Dubai, United Arab Emirates, 20 November 2025

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Good morning.

Namibia welcomes this timely engagement, which reaffirms our collective commitment to safeguarding the credibility and integrity of the global diamond sector.

Namibia stands here today to reaffirm its unwavering collective commitment to a principle that governs the diamond trade value chain – the principle of peace, transparency and accountability.

As a producing country of many years, Namibia views the Kimberley Process Certification Scheme as a guarantor of the livelihoods of communities and the national development that diamonds support, and the only globally recognised mechanism that ensures that rough diamonds do not fuel conflicts, exploitation or instability to legitimate governments and their people. Therefore, our focus is on ensuring that the process continues to protect both the integrity of the supply chain and the developmental aspirations of producer nations.

Reflecting on why the Kimberley Process was established, it was not established as an initiative of convenience but of necessity. In the early 2000s, the world was awakened to the devastating reality that diamonds, which are supposed to be symbols of love and luxury, were being used to fund brutal civil wars in Africa. The international community responded not with rhetoric but with resolve. Consequently, the Kimberley Process was established through United Nations Resolution 55/56, uniting diamond-producing countries, governments, industry leaders and civil society under one umbrella with one shared mission – to eliminate conflict diamonds from the global supply chain.

And it worked.

Today, over 86 countries participate in the Kimberley Process. It is the only certification node backed by national legislation, enforced through internal controls and monitored by a peer review mechanism. It is not a brand nor a marketing tool. It is a government-to-government regulatory framework, and that distinction matters.

We may argue that new technologies and private schemes can replace the Kimberley Process. Blockchain tracing and laboratory-based analysis are indeed valuable best practice tools to enhance transparency and consumer confidence. But let us be clear: none of these alternatives address issues of conflict, nor do they regulate trade. They do not carry the weight of international law.

To abandon or dilute the Kimberley Process is to risk fragmentation, confusion and the erosion of consumer trust. It is to open the door once again to illicit trade and human suffering. We must not let that happen.

Instead, the leadership should strive to strengthen the Kimberley Process by expanding its scope to include issues such as the development of diamond communities, whose well-being depends on revenue derived from diamonds produced and beneficiated around them. We must use technologies that enhance traceability and support artisanal miners, who are most vulnerable to exploitation, by ensuring they participate meaningfully in the diamond value chain.

While the Kimberley Process may not be without imperfections, it is an authentic, credible and legitimate framework – one that has been collectively cultivated and progressively strengthened by its participants and observers. Adopting a definition of conflict diamond that meets the aspirations of African diamond-producing governments and their citizens represents a pivotal advancement, reinforcing the foundational principles of the process, extending its scope and affirming its relevance and impact. 

It is the duty of all stakeholders to ensure that each diamond introduced into the market is accompanied not solely by a certificate of origin but also by a formal attestation of ethical provenance and social accountability.

As we deliberate on strengthening definitions, enhancing compliance mechanisms and improving data transparency, we must do so in a manner that protects the credibility of the Kimberley Process while recognising the developmental needs of all participants.

As I conclude, Namibia remains fully committed to constructive dialogue, consensus-driven solutions and reforms that reinforce the relevance and effectiveness of the Kimberley Process. I respectfully urge all participants to endorse a definition that reflects our shared values and commitment to enhanced transparency, integrity, cooperation and the responsible governance of the Kimberley Process Certification Scheme, advancing stability and responsible stewardship of the diamond sector.

Thank you.

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