The diamond industry is calling for urgent reform of the Kimberley Process, the international pact created to eliminate trade in conflict diamonds, amid growing criticism from activists who say the system has become ineffective and outdated. The push for change comes as participants from 86 nations prepare to meet in Dubai next week for what is expected to be a contentious debate over redefining what constitutes a “conflict” diamond.
Feriel Zerouki, president of the World Diamond Council — the body representing the industry within the Kimberley Process — told the Financial Times that the framework established in 2003 is no longer adequate. She argued that the current rules, drafted two decades ago, fail to reflect today’s geopolitical realities and must evolve if the certification scheme is to retain credibility. Zerouki stressed that the opportunity for reform is narrow: under the process’s rules, the next chance to revise the definition would not come until 2031.
The Kimberley Process was originally created in response to global alarm over how rebel groups in Sierra Leone used proceeds from diamonds to fuel the country’s civil war in the 1990s and early 2000s — a crisis that later inspired the 2006 film Blood Diamond. But activist groups say the pact’s definition of conflict diamonds is so limited that it excludes many modern forms of violence, abuse, and state-linked aggression. Currently, the scheme only classifies diamonds as “conflict” if they are sold by rebel movements seeking to overthrow a legitimate government.
Critics argue this narrow scope has allowed the system to become toothless. For example, no diamond-producing country, including Russia, is presently designated as being in conflict, despite Moscow’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine. Western governments have expressed frustration that the consensus-based voting mechanism has enabled Russia to block discussions about its role in the diamond trade. While the G7 has introduced bans on Russian rough diamonds and the EU has sanctioned Alrosa, analysts say Russian stones continue to make their way into the supply chain through third-country polishing centres.
Non-profit organisations monitoring the Kimberley Process added pressure last week, warning in a public letter that the pact’s lack of transparency allows “greenwashing.” They argued that the mechanism creates the illusion of progress while avoiding the deeper structural issues in the global diamond trade. One signatory, Hans Merket of the International Peace Information Service, said the process is “beyond repair,” noting that the challenge lies not only in the definition of conflict but also in the system’s overall approach.
Zerouki said one proposal under discussion would broaden the definition of conflict diamonds to include those linked to armed groups, UN-sanctioned individuals, and other entities posing risks to mining communities. Supporters of reform hope that next week’s meetings will finally break the years-long deadlock that has prevented the Kimberley Process from modernising.
As tensions rise among member states and watchdog groups, the Dubai gathering is shaping up to be a critical moment — one that could determine whether the Kimberley Process evolves to address 21st-century challenges or continues to face mounting scrutiny over its relevance.
