United States Participation in Kimberley Process Plenary Meetings

The United States participated in the annual Kimberley Process (KP) Plenary meetings in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, November 12-15. The Kimberley Process is an international, multi-stakeholder initiative created to increase transparency and oversight in the diamond industry to eliminate trade in conflict diamonds, a goal the United States strongly supports.

KP Plenary Participants decided to lift export restrictions on rough diamonds from the Central African Republic (CAR), subject to enhanced vigilance. The United States hopes this advances our shared priority of ensuring the people of CAR are able to economically benefit from their natural resources in a way that does not undercut the country's peace. The United States calls upon all KP Participants and Observers, including industry and civil society who advocated for the lifting of restrictions, to implement enhanced vigilance, necessary to ensure the responsible resumption of exports is done in a manner that benefits the people of CAR and supports the legitimacy of the KP. Demonstrated by the more than $650 million the United States contributed to CAR from 2021 to 2024, we remain committed to supporting the citizens of the Central African Republic on their path to economic independence and durable peace.

The United States regrets that Kimberley Process Plenary meeting Participants remained unable to examine the role Russia's diamond production plays in funding Russia's war against Ukraine, as requested by Ukraine and supported by the United States and others. Despite the KP's mandate to address how the trade in rough diamonds fuels conflict, Russia and a small number of other KP Participants objected to the request. For the second year in a row, Russia also refused to support a public communique that acknowledged Ukraine's request.

The United States believes that meaningful reform of the Kimberley Process, including through its Ad Hoc Committee on Review and Reform, is essential for its continued relevance. During the Plenary meetings, the United States acknowledges the decision to maintain the United Arab Emirates as a custodian KP Chair, with Thailand serving as vice chair, in 2025.

More information on oversight of the diamond industry to eliminate trade in conflict diamonds can be found here or contact [email protected].

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