(Rapaport… August 6, 2004) The Republic of Congo (Brazzaville) has halted diamond exports as of August 5 following its exclusion from the Kimberley Process, the Associated Press reported.
Philippe Mvouo, the country’s minister of mines, energy and hydraulics, said that the decision was taken “with the view of better organizing the sector.” He said that his government had no control over unorganized freelance miners in the northern Likouala region and added that the decision to exlude it from the Kimberley Process would hit hundreds of such diggers in the country.
The 43 countries and international organizations which are members of the Kimberley Process have agreed to certify the origin of every diamond purchased and that is legally exported. Congo (Brazzaville) was excluded from the Kimberley Process after its neighbor, the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), complained that Congo (Brazzaville) could not account for the bulk of its exports.