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

In 2019, the government of Botswana announced plans to increase its share of the revenue from diamond mining. The government proposed a new royalty rate of 15% on the value of diamonds extracted from the mines, and also announced plans to acquire a 24% stake in the Debswana Mining Company, which is the joint venture between De Beers and the government of Botswana.

However, the proposed solution—taking control of De Beers—is a high-stakes gamble. It could allow Botswana to finally capture the full value of its mineral wealth, but it also risks sinking the nation deeper into debt and dependency on a beleaguered industry. Whether President Boko’s bold vision will lead to a new era of diamond-driven prosperity or a cautionary tale of overreach is a story that is still being written in the mines of Jwaneng and the negotiating rooms of Gaborone. In 2019, the government of Botswana announced plans

Following years of arguing they received a raw deal, Botswana is leveraging a landmark 2025 sales agreement to pursue majority control of De Beers amidst Anglo American's restructuring. As of April 2026, the government is seeking to acquire an 85% stake to transition from a junior partner to controlling owner of the diamond giant. For more details, visit Bloomberg . It could allow Botswana to finally capture the

Historically, the joint venture between the government and De Beers, known as Debswana , allocated 75% of all rough diamonds directly to De Beers. This arrangement left Botswana's state-owned Okavango Diamond Company (ODC) with just a 25% share to sell independently. Critics argued that this system starved the local economy of job creation and technical expertise, effectively shortchanging the world’s largest producer of rough diamonds by value. As of April 2026, the government is seeking

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.