Africa-Press – Sierra-Leone. Sierra Leone’s Minister of Mines and Mineral Resources, Julius Daniel Mattai, has called on members of the Kimberly Process Certification Scheme (KPCS) to keep politics out of the discussions.
Speaking in Dubai, where he chaired the African Diamond Producers Association (ADPA) meeting ahead of the KPCS Intersessional, he reminded delegates about the original purpose of the group.
Minister Mattai said the KPCS was created to stop the trade in conflict diamonds and should not be used to deal with political disagreements between countries. He said losing focus would damage the trust and work the group has built over the years.
The Minister, who led Sierra Leone’s team at the event, also spoke about how diamonds can help bring peace and support growth if properly managed. He explained that Sierra Leone is now looking beyond diamonds and gold to minerals like lithium, which are in high demand around the world.
While in Dubai, Minister Mattai met with KPCS Chairman Ahmed Bin Sulayem. They talked about the current diamond market, Sierra Leone’s role in the certification process, and the mining sector back home.
Sierra Leone is active in several KPCS working groups, including those on monitoring, artisanal mining, and technical issues. The country is also involved in the African Diamond Producers Association.
Ambassador Rashid Sesay, Sierra Leone’s representative in the UAE, was also part of the delegation.
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