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

President Masisi has drawn a hard line in the sand. He isn't asking for a revolution; he is asking for . He wants:

Botswana's President, Mokgweetsi Masisi, took a remarkably public and aggressive stance during the negotiations. Masisi openly threatened to walk away from the deal if Botswana did not receive a larger share of its own diamonds, stating that the country had been "cheated" by the historic terms of the arrangement. The New Agreement: A Step Toward Equality? President Masisi has drawn a hard line in the sand

If you need or specific data points from the article, please provide a short excerpt or citation, and I can help analyze it. Alternatively, I can help you locate the original article or find more recent updates on the Botswana–De Beers relationship. Masisi openly threatened to walk away from the

The evidence suggests that the historical partnership, while providing immense benefits, has consistently favored De Beers and its parent company. Botswana has supplied the vast majority of the stones while retaining only a minority of the ultimate value. The new sales agreement, though improved, falls short of what many believe the country deserves, particularly given its economic hardship. Alternatively, I can help you locate the original

Historically, De Beers mined the rough diamonds in Botswana and shipped them to London, where they were sorted, aggregated, and sold to manufacturers. The high-value activities—sorting, cutting, polishing, and retail—happened elsewhere, keeping the bulk of the economic profit outside Botswana’s borders.

Yet, from the very beginning, the scales of benefit have been a source of latent tension. Profits were largely booked abroad, and for a long time, Botswana's leadership did not have full visibility of the true value of its own resources. Over the past 20 years, the government has learned to negotiate harder, clawing back a larger share of the proceeds. However, for many local economists and political leaders, the shift has been far too slow and insufficient.

Compounding the issue is the corporate instability surrounding De Beers' parent company, Anglo American. Amid corporate restructuring and cost-cutting pressures, Anglo American has actively explored selling or spinning off De Beers. A change in corporate ownership adds an layer of volatility for Botswana, which relies on De Beers' massive marketing budget to sustain global consumer demand for natural luxury diamonds. The Verdict: Raw Deal or Realpolitik?