A high-level bilateral meeting was convened on Tuesday 13 May 2025 between the Sierra Leonean delegation, led by the Minister of Mines and Mineral Resources, Julius Daniel Mattai, and the Kimberley Process Certification Scheme (KPCS) Secretariat, led by the KPCS Chairman, HE Ahmed Bin Sulayem. The meeting addressed a range of critical issues shaping the future of the global diamond sector and Sierra Leone’s strategic positioning within it. Key topics included the competition between the proposed G7 Diamond Certification and the KPCS, the impact of laboratory-grown diamonds, diamond market trends, geopolitical infrastructure rivalries, labour unrest in Sierra Leone’s diamond sector, investment risks, sector diversification, digitalisation of certification, and a proposal for Sierra Leone to chair the KPCS in 2026/2027.
The meeting parties extensively discussed the rapid rise of laboratory-grown diamonds (LGDs) and how they are reshaping the diamond market. LGDs are gaining popularity among younger, eco-conscious consumers, especially in the West, due to their lower cost and perceived ethical advantages. Minister Mattai pointed out that this shift poses a threat to traditional diamond mining economies, including Sierra Leone, by eroding demand for natural stones. However, the meeting also identified opportunities for African countries to participate in the LGD value chain, potentially attracting new investment and fostering technology transfer.
Minister Mattai reiterated that the diamond market is in flux, with traditional producers facing declining export revenues and heightened competition. He explained that Sierra Leone’s diamond sector, once a pillar of the national economy, has seen its export contribution drop sharply, exacerbated by recent labour unrest and global market uncertainties. He also explained that investment in Sierra Leone’s mining sector is further hampered by perceptions of political risk, regulatory uncertainty, and the need for robust political risk insurance.
Minister Mattai pointed out that Sierra Leone’s largest diamond producer, Koidu Limited, recently went into Care & Maintenance and that the ongoing labour crisis has exposed vulnerabilities in the mining sector, including outdated payment practices, regulatory ambiguities, and the risk of prolonged industrial action disrupting national exports and investor confidence.
Minister Mattai reiterated Sierra Leone’s commitment to diversifying its mining sector beyond iron ore and diamond to include gold, rutile, bauxite, lithium, and other critical minerals. He emphasized that diversification is seen as essential for attracting new investment, reducing vulnerability to commodity price swings, and supporting economic recovery and development.
The meeting also explored the deployment of diamond traceability “from mine to consumer”, using blockchain and other digital technologies to modernize the KPCS and promote provenance of natural diamonds over LGDs. The KPCS Chairman passionately explained that digitalisation promises enhanced security, traceability, and efficiency in certification, with blockchain offering the highest security but also posing implementation challenges for resource-constrained countries. A hybrid approach, combining digital forms with embedded security features and application programming interface (API)-driven verification, was discussed and recommended as a practical pathway for KPCS reform.
The KP Secretariat also encouraged the Sierra Leone delegation to consider assuming the KPCS chairmanship in 2026/2027, recognizing the country’s leadership within the African Diamond Producers Association (ADPA) and its ongoing sector reforms. This would provide Sierra Leone with a platform to advocate for producer interests and shape the future direction of the global diamond industry.
In a nutshell, the Sierra Leone–KPCS Secretariat Bilateral meeting highlighted both the challenges and opportunities facing diamond-producing countries in a rapidly changing global landscape. By embracing reform, digitalisation, and diversification, and by advocating for fair and inclusive governance at the KPCS, African Producers can secure a more resilient and prosperous future for their diamond sectors.
