For the first time in history, the government of President Mokgweetsi Masisi is publicly saying "yes"—and demanding a divorce settlement that could shatter the cartel forever.
After years of threatening to walk away, former President Mokgweetsi Masisi and new President Duma Boko helped solidify a new agreement (finalized February 25, 2025) designed to address these concerns.
But the "raw deal" isn't about poverty—it's about . For the first time in history, the government
As The World News understands it, the current negotiations are at a knife's edge. De Beers recently moved its rough diamond aggregation from London back to Gaborone—a major concession. But Botswana is holding out for the right to sell up to 50% of its own stones independently.
To understand the current friction, it is essential to look at the unique architecture of the Botswana-De Beers relationship. As The World News understands it, the current
The most dramatic twist in this saga involves the future of De Beers itself. With its parent company, Anglo-American, looking to exit the diamond business, De Beers is officially up for sale. This has presented Botswana with a monumental decision: should it use its pre-emptive rights to buy a controlling stake in the very company that has historically controlled its destiny?
Under the terms of the agreement, De Beers pays the government of Botswana a royalty of 10% on the value of diamonds extracted from the mines. However, critics argue that this royalty rate is too low, and that the government of Botswana is not getting a fair share of the revenue generated by the diamond industry. To understand the current friction, it is essential
user wants a long article for the keyword "Is Botswana Getting a Raw Deal From De Beers - The World News". I need to provide a comprehensive analysis. To do this, I need to gather information on the current state of negotiations, the 2023/2024 deal headlines, the terms of the existing 2011 sales deal, recent positions from both sides, historic context including the 2006 agreement, South Africa's diamond deal comparison, economic data, the 10-year moratorium development, and the impact on Botswana's economy. I will search for these topics in parallel. search results have provided a good overview. I have information on the recent deals, the phased sales agreement, mining license extensions, and the broader context of Botswana's push for control. Now I need to gather more specific data on the economic impact, such as the contribution of diamonds to GDP and government revenue. I will also need to find information on the 10-year moratorium on the sale of Debswana shares, details about the Debswana joint venture, the Okavango Diamond Company (ODC), the lost decade of development, and the dates of the new agreements. I will search for these topics now. have gathered a substantial amount of information. Now I need to structure the article. The article should have a title and sections covering: introduction, historical context, the 2025 agreement (sales and licenses), the push for De Beers ownership, the economic reality, the global context, and a conclusion. I will cite the sources I have found.Is Botswana Getting a Raw Deal From De Beers Diamonds?**