Botswana and France sign Paris Declaration to champion natural diamonds

Botswana and France signed a declaration in Paris on Tuesday committing both countries to promote responsible growth in natural diamonds and to strengthen consumer confidence. The accord was signed at the Paris Peace Forum, held this year at the Musée de la Marine.

The signing comes a day after Botswana announced its intention to double its stake in De Beers Group to 30 percent, a second clear move in as many days by the Southern African nation on behalf of mined diamonds.

Known as the Paris Declaration, the agreement recognises the contribution natural diamonds make to producing economies. It calls for responsible and transparent sourcing, protections for workers, and clear terminology, specifying that the word diamond refers to a natural diamond.

France signed through Nicolas Forissier, the minister delegate for foreign trade and economic attractiveness. Botswana was represented by Bogolo Joy Kenewendo, its minister of minerals and energy. The signing coincides with the 60th anniversary of Botswana's independence and of diplomatic relations between the two countries.

The two governments intend to establish a joint working group that includes private-sector representatives. That group will monitor how the declaration is put into practice and publish annual progress reports beginning in 2027. The text also calls for public information initiatives.

The declaration further asks for the application of existing consumer-protection laws, keeping enforcement within frameworks both countries already operate rather than creating a new regime. Terminology and trust carry as much weight in the text as sourcing standards do.

The Diamond Collective welcomes the accord

Amber Pepper, chief executive of The Diamond Collective, welcomed the declaration. The organisation was formerly known as the Natural Diamond Council. "We are delighted with this declaration," she said, calling it a reminder that a natural diamond supports livelihoods, communities and economies in producing countries.

Pepper added that diamonds are at the heart of France's extraordinary jewellery heritage, bringing together the rarity of the stone with generations of craftsmanship and expertise. The remark ties the declaration's producer-economy case to the French luxury houses that shape demand for the stones.

A second diamond move in 48 hours

The declaration follows Botswana's announcement on Monday that it plans to double its stake in De Beers to 30 percent. We covered that move when it was announced, and it would make Botswana the diamond company's largest shareholder.

During his 2026 State of the Nation address, President Duma Boko endorsed a consortium led by Gareth Penny, the former De Beers chief executive, to acquire Anglo American's 85 percent holding in the miner. Boko said Namibia and Angola would also participate.

Boko presented the participation of those neighbouring countries as giving diamond-producing nations greater influence in the business. De Beers said it welcomed Botswana's continued commitment to the company, which would become its largest shareholder.

The Paris Declaration is the diplomatic counterpart to that financial move. Together the two steps build a producer-led argument for natural diamonds, and the terminology clause defines the word diamond as a natural stone only.

We also covered the centenary of London Jewelers, marked with a 20.26-carat D Flawless Old Mine Cushion cut in Botswana through De Beers Group's Origin programme. That story showed the country's stones entering high-value retail on named provenance.

The joint working group gives the declaration a mechanism rather than leaving it as a statement of intent. The declaration does not say who is on it, and no members have been named.

The declaration was signed on the sidelines of a forum devoted to peace and governance rather than to trade, and it names no penalties. Its public information initiatives are the main lever it offers for shaping how consumers understand natural diamonds.

The first test is the working group itself. What the first progress report measures, and whether the terminology clause alters how jewellery is described in France, will show whether the declaration becomes practice or stays a diplomatic gesture.

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Image: Botswana’s minister of minerals and energy Bogolo Joy Kenewendo and France’s minister delegate for foreign trade and economic attractiveness Nicolas Forissier C