Provide More Control Means

International Non-Governmental Organisations have for some time been on Cameroon’s throat accusing the country of easing trade in rough diamond from war torn Central African Republic (C.A.R.). This country (C.A.R.),  has been temporarily suspended from the Kimberley Process for out rightly violating the terms of the arrangement. The Kimberley Process, it should be recalled, is an international certification scheme that regulates trade in rough diamonds. It has as aim to prevent the flow of conflict diamonds, while helping to protect legitimate trade in rough diamonds. The Kimberley Process Certification Scheme (KPCS) outlines the rules that govern the trade in rough diamonds. It has developed a set of minimum requirements that each participant must meet.
As a modest producer of diamond wherein the country declares 2,500 carats annually of its 5,000 potential, Cameroon seven years back joined the process with the aim of scrupulously adhering to its terms. The country’s production remains embryonic but to pre-empt a situation where neighbouring countries will take advantage of its teething production to sneak past diamond to the market in exchange for money to finance conflicts in their territory, Cameroon quickly joined the Kimberley Process. But this has not stopped international NGOs from continuously suspecting the country of allowing diamond from the Central African Republic penetrate its territory. It is not clear whether the accusations blame Cameroon for doing that intentionally but what come out clearly is the fact that there is weak control especially at the borders. The latest accusation coming in from the “Partenariat Afrique Canada (PAC) », blatantly blames Cameroon for disrespecting the Kimberley Process. These accusations have been officially debunked by the Permanent Secretariat of the K...