Is Botswana Getting A Raw Deal From De Beers Diamonds - The World News Jun 2026

The most dramatic twist in this saga involves the future of De Beers itself. With its parent company, Anglo-American, looking to exit the diamond business, De Beers is officially up for sale. This has presented Botswana with a monumental decision: should it use its pre-emptive rights to buy a controlling stake in the very company that has historically controlled its destiny?

For now, the diamonds keep coming out of the earth. But the shine has worn off the partnership. Whether Botswana leaves the bargaining table with a fairer share—or walks away into an uncertain future—will determine if this "perfect marriage" ends in a very expensive divorce.

Critics of the historic arrangement—and even high-ranking political figures in Botswana—argued that while the country supplied a massive portion of the world's rough diamonds, it captured too little of the downstream revenue. The most dramatic twist in this saga involves

If you'd like, I can expand further into specific areas. Let me know if you want to explore:

The state-owned Okavango Diamond Company (ODC) will see its share of rough diamond production rise from 25% to 50% over the next decade. For now, the diamonds keep coming out of the earth

Is Botswana Getting a Raw Deal From De Beers Diamonds? For over half a century, the partnership between Botswana and De Beers has been hailed as one of the most successful public-private collaborations in the world. However, as the global diamond market undergoes seismic shifts, a critical question has emerged: Is Botswana getting a raw deal?

The core of the "raw deal" argument lies in a fundamental absurdity. Botswana's state-owned Okavango Diamond Company (ODC) now receives an allocation of rough stones, which it intends to sell directly to buyers. In November 2025, ODC began transitioning to a contract sales model to diversify away from De Beers' control. The ambition is to eventually sell 50% of its allocation through these direct channels. This is a crucial step toward economic sovereignty. and jewelry manufacturing

By The World News Economics Desk

This public link is valid for 7 days and shares a thread, including any personal information you added. This link or copies made by others cannot be deleted. If you share with third parties, their policies apply. Can’t copy the link right now. Try again later.

The agreement places a renewed emphasis on building local capacity in diamond cutting, polishing, and jewelry manufacturing, ensuring more value remains within the country.

Historically, the vast majority of profits in the diamond pipeline are generated in the "downstream" sectors—cutting, polishing, marketing, and retail. For decades, Botswana exported raw materials (rough diamonds) and imported finished luxury goods, missing out on billions in added value.