Is Botswana Getting A Raw Deal From De Beers Diamonds - The World News ✰
Is Botswana getting a raw deal? Not compared to most resource-rich nations in Africa, which often see zero benefit from their minerals. Compared to the theoretical ideal—where a nation owns 100% of its resources and the downstream value chain—yes, Botswana is leaving billions on the table.
The coming months are critical. If Botswana secures a deal that gives it control over independent sales and a higher percentage of rough stones, it will set a new precedent for global resource nationalism. If it caves, the "gold standard" might start to look a little tarnished.
For now, Gaborone holds the cards. The question is whether De Beers is willing to pay the price to keep them.
What do you think? Should resource-rich nations control their own diamond destiny? Join the conversation in the comments below.
Follow The World News for ongoing coverage of the Africa trade corridors and global commodity markets.
Botswana is aggressively pursuing a controlling stake in De Beers, aiming to shift from a historical partnership model to total ownership as part of a strategy to maximize control over its diamond resources and address economic pressures. While recent sales agreements increased the state-owned, Okavango Diamond Company's share, the government is currently seeking financing from Oman to bid for a majority stake amid a significant global diamond market downturn. Read the full details on the, Mining.com
Botswana's diamond stockpile swells as gem price slump persists - Reuters
Diamonds normally contribute around one-third of Botswana's national revenues and three-quarters of its foreign exchange receipts.
Botswana’s president courts Oman amid De Beers’ control battle
By [Author Name] | The World News
For decades, the partnership between Botswana and De Beers has been hailed as the "gold standard" of natural resource collaboration. Since the discovery of diamonds shortly after independence in 1966, Botswana has transformed from one of the poorest countries in the world into an upper-middle-income nation. Much of that success is credited to the 50/50 joint venture with the diamond giant.
But a shadow looms over Gaborone. As the current sales agreement expires and negotiations for a new deal heat up, a critical question is echoing across the Kalahari: Is Botswana getting a raw deal from De Beers?
To understand the current tension, one must acknowledge the history. Unlike many African nations that fell victim to the "resource curse"—where mineral wealth fuels corruption and conflict—Botswana utilized diamond revenues to build infrastructure, fund free education, and develop a thriving tourism sector. The partnership was formalized through Debswana, a 50/50 joint venture between the government and De Beers.
For years, this seemed equitable. But critics argue that the world has changed, and the contract has not kept pace. The core of the dispute lies not in the mining of the diamonds, but in their journey after they leave the ground. Is Botswana getting a raw deal
Another friction point is the financial structure of the agreement. Under the current deal, Botswana sells 75% of Debswana’s output to the Okavango Diamond Company (a state-owned entity), while De Beers takes the remaining 25%.
However, analysts point out that De Beers pays royalties and taxes that are competitive, but perhaps not maximized for the producer's benefit. As the global diamond market fluctuates and synthetic (lab-grown) diamonds threaten natural prices, Botswana is seeking to secure a higher "floor" price or a larger volume allocation to sell independently. By relying heavily on De Beers' marketing machinery, Botswana arguably remains a tenant in its own house, renting out its soil rather than truly owning the product.
Is Botswana getting a raw deal? In the strictest financial sense regarding value addition and downstream integration, the answer has historically been yes. The nation has been a passive supplier of raw wealth rather than an active participant in the luxury market.
However, the definition of a "raw deal" is changing. Botswana is no longer the fledgling nation of 1966; it is a sophisticated economic player demanding its rightful share of the value chain. The current negotiations are not just about royalty percentages; they are about the soul of the industry.
If De Beers accedes to Botswana’s demands for more local processing and greater supply control, the "partnership" will finally evolve into equality. If they resist, Botswana may well decide that the "raw deal" is no longer a deal at all.
Historically, and De Beers have shared a 50-year partnership described as the world's most successful public-private venture. However, recent years saw growing tension as Botswana’s leadership argued the country was getting a "raw deal" by being restricted primarily to mining rather than the more profitable cutting, polishing, and retailing sectors. 💎 The New "Fair" Deal (2025)
To address these concerns, a landmark agreement was formally signed in February 2025 and reaffirmed in early 2026. The new terms represent a significant shift in power and profit:
While the 2025 agreement improved Botswana's diamond sales share to 50% by 2035, the government argues the 15% stake in De Beers remains unbalanced given its 70% supply share. President Duma Boko is now seeking a majority stake in De Beers to secure control over global pricing and branding, with a bid deadline set for April 16, 2026. For more details, visit mining.com Anglo American
Under President Duma Boko, Botswana is aggressively seeking a controlling stake in De Beers to secure economic sovereignty, aiming to acquire over 50% ownership by October 2026. While a February 2025 agreement increased Botswana’s share of diamond production to 50% by 2035, the push for majority control comes amidst a depressed diamond market and high financial risk, with opposition questioning the strategy. Read the full story at Mining.com.
So, is Botswana getting a raw deal?
From a strict accounting perspective, the answer is nuanced. Historically, no. De Beers lifted Botswana from GDP per capita of $70 to over $8,000. The infrastructure, health care, and democratic stability are unparalleled in Africa.
But looking forward, the answer is a resounding yes.
The current deal is a relic of a pre-synthetic, pre-internet monopoly era. In a world where De Beers’ market share has shrunk from 90% to around 30%, Botswana no longer needs a guardian; it needs a logistics partner. Follow The World News for ongoing coverage of
As The World News understands it, the current negotiations are at a knife's edge. De Beers recently moved its rough diamond aggregation from London back to Gaborone—a major concession. But Botswana is holding out for the right to sell up to 50% of its own stones independently.
If Botswana wins, it will become the world’s first vertically integrated diamond sovereign nation, breaking the cartel for good. If De Beers wins, or simply walks away, Botswana faces a terrifying market crash.
The raw deal is not just about money. It is about control. For 60 years, a nation blessed with the world’s hardest gem has been treated like a soft touch. As President Masisi told Parliament last month: "We are not asking for a favor. We are taking what is ours."
Whether the world is ready for a Botswana that cuts its own diamonds—and keeps the profit—will determine the fate of the next six decades.
— The World News
Botswana and De Beers signed a landmark 10-year sales agreement in February 2025, increasing the nation’s share of rough diamonds from 25% to 50% by 2035 and extending mining licenses to 2054. While designed to address economic imbalances, the deal operates amid significant market volatility and rising stockpiles, with some critics questioning if the terms sufficiently mitigate risks. Read the full details of the agreement on Reuters. Botswana's Diamond Stockpile Hits 12m Carats - IDEX Online
As of April 2026, Botswana has shifted away from a "raw deal" in its diamond partnership with De Beers by securing a 10-year agreement that raises the state’s share of rough diamonds, transitioning toward a 50/50 equity split by 2035. While this February 2025 deal increases local control, Botswana currently faces economic challenges, including a global supply glut, market volatility, and a substantial diamond inventory. For more information, visit Reuters.
Botswana Diamond Glut Crisis Hits 12M Carats in 2026 - Discovery Alert
Is Botswana Getting a Raw Deal From De Beers Diamonds?
GABORONE, Botswana – For decades, the sparkling relationship between the arid nation of Botswana and the diamond giant De Beers has been hailed as the "perfect marriage." Diamonds built Botswana’s middle class, funded its free education, and transformed it from one of the poorest countries on Earth into Africa’s most stable, upper-middle-income economy.
But as the world turns away from mined gems toward lab-grown stones, whispers in the Kalahari are growing into a roar. The question on every citizen’s mind: Is Botswana getting a raw deal?
At the heart of the tension is Debswana—a 50/50 joint venture between the government and De Beers. For 50 years, the deal was simple: De Beers handled global marketing and sales; Botswana collected roughly 80% of the revenue from domestic production. But last year, a new mining code and a standoff over a new sales agreement exposed deep fractures.
"The balance has shifted," says Thabo Mokoena, an economist at the University of Botswana. "De Beers still controls the sightholder list—the exclusive buyers. Botswana provides the rocks, but London decides who buys them. In an era where diamond prices are crashing, that control means everything." By [Author Name] | The World News For
The conflict came to a head this spring. Botswana’s President Mokgweetsi Masisi demanded that state-owned Okavango Diamond Company be allowed to sell 50% of the local production independently, bypassing De Beers’ London sorting room. De Beers countered with an offer of 30%.
"We are not a quarry," President Masisi said in a fiery address last month. "We are not just diggers. We want the full value of our resources, including cutting, polishing, and selling. The current deal treats us like a junior partner in our own house."
De Beers argues the partnership remains "the most successful resource-based partnership in history." A spokesperson in London told The World News: "Botswana has received over $6 billion in dividends and royalties. We have built hospitals, roads, and a diamond hub in Gaborone. The idea of a raw deal is simply not factual."
But on the dusty streets of Jwaneng, home to the richest diamond mine in the world by value, the sentiment is different. Miners complain that while executives fly in private jets, local polishers earn less than $200 a month. Meanwhile, De Beers reported $6 billion in rough diamond sales last year—but Botswana’s share of downstream profits remains negligible.
The ticking clock is synthetic diamonds. Lab-grown stones now cost 80% less than mined ones, decimating prices. "De Beers is trying to lock Botswana into a long-term deal before the bottom falls out of the natural diamond market," warns diamond analyst Clara van der Merwe. "Botswana is right to ask for more now. In five years, De Beers may have nothing left to offer."
As negotiations drag on, President Masisi has played a high-stakes card: threatening to walk away. He has publicly stated that if De Beers won't yield, Botswana will launch its own state-owned diamond trading house.
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.
Reporting from Gaborone, The World News.
If Botswana were getting a truly raw deal, we would expect to see underfunded hospitals and crumbling roads. Instead, we see modern infrastructure and universal education. The revenue from diamonds funds 50% of Botswana’s budget.
But the "raw deal" isn't about poverty—it's about lost opportunity.
Consider this: A rough diamond dug in Botswana might be cut in Surat, India, polished in Antwerp, set in New York, and sold to a bride in Tokyo. Of that final retail price (which could be 5x to 10x the rough value), Botswana currently captures only the cost of extraction plus half the rough profit.
President Masisi has drawn a hard line in the sand. He isn't asking for a revolution; he is asking for evolution. He wants: