Kimberley Process must “catch up,” UAE warns at UN

TDT | Manama

Email : editor@newsofbahrain.com

At the United Nations General Assembly debate on the role of diamonds in fueling conflict, the United Arab Emirates highlighted progress made under its chairmanship of the Kimberley Process while acknowledging the failure to reach consensus on updating the definition of “conflict diamonds.”

Speaking on behalf of the Kimberley Process, Ahmed Bin Sulayem noted that the UAE’s 2025 custodial chairmanship— under the theme “Year of Best Practice”—focused on strengthening governance, improving compliance, and reinforcing leadership continuity within the global diamond certification scheme.

He recalled that the Kimberley Process, established to prevent the trade of conflict diamonds from financing armed groups, has continued to serve as a key international framework promoting transparency and accountability in the diamond trade for over two decades.

The UAE official said that while significant progress was made through reforms, technical assistance measures, and structural reviews aimed at supporting artisanal and smallscale miners, member states were ultimately unable to agree on an updated definition of conflict diamonds after three years of negotiations.

He described the outcome as “regrettable,” noting disappointment among African producers and other stakeholders, but stressed that dialogue must continue in good faith.

UAE-led initiatives such as “Verifico,” a digital certification platform aimed at improving traceability and integrity in diamond trading, which is currently in the pilot phase and will be donated to the Kimberley Process framework.