Skip to main content

Umaru Napoleon Koroma and Team Shines at Kimberley (Diamond) Summit in Zimbabwe


Umaru Napoleon Koroma and Team Shines at  Kimberley (Diamond) Summit in Zimbabwe

Deputy Minister of Mines and Mineral Resources, Umaru Napoleon Koroma has participated in the 20th Plenary of the Kimberley Process held at the Victoria Fall in Zimbabwe. 

Through out the five days summit, the Deputy Minister and his team from Sierra Leone had fruitfully deliberations on a range of issues including the Kimberley Certification Process which was initiated 20 years ago because of the the trade in conflict diamonds from Sierra Leone, Liberia, Angola and the Democratic Republic of Congo.  Sierra Leone as a diamond producing country currently holds the position of Vice President at the Executive Directorate of the African Diamond Producers Association (ADPA). 

During the deliberations, it emerged that Sierra Leone and three other countries will be used as case studies for a research on the use of resources derived from artisanal and alluvial mining for the good of the communities blessed with these resources. 

"Sierra Leone is overwhelmingly committed towards this research and our government will cooperate in it fully because it seeks to adress the fundamental  development challenges in our communities" he said.
It was also revealed that the Diamond Area Community Development Fund (DACDF) a 2001 initiative from Sierra Leone would be considered as a model to be adopted by other African diamond producing countries. Zimbabwe has already adopted this model to create their own community development fund. This development ignited a sense of pride on Team Sierra Leone which was to later engage in other discussions  with groups like the Adhoc Committee on the Review and Reform (ADHCRR) of the Kimberley Process core documents. This Committe looked at the broader definition of "conflict diamonds" where a proposal by othet countries to exted the term to trade in cut and polished diamonds coming from aggressor countries. A connsesus was however not reached on this. The team also actively engaged with  Working Group of Diamond Experts (WDGE) which among other things discussed an agreement between Zimbabwe and Botswana. The discussions will be incorporated into an agreement that will be further scrutinized. 

Speaking to this medium from Zimbabwe, Deputy Minister Umaru Napoleon Koroma said the five days summit provided insightful narratives that will undoubtedly leave lasting impressions on the minds of participants.  

"We came to represent our beloved country and we are very proud of what we have achieved, not only in making a case for Sierra Leone but also shining the light on the management of our diamonds to other countries" he said.

Deputy Minister Napoleon Koroma will also be attending a four days meeting with the world Diamond Council organized by the renowned world leading diamond company, De-Beers in Botswana.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

EU Budget Support Delay: Government Rejects Link to Judicial Case, Clarifies Reason for 2026 Disbursement Shift

Government Clarifies EU Budget Support Disbursement to Sierra Leone Note: According to the Information and Civic Education Minister.  The Government of Sierra Leone has clarified reports linking the European Union’s 2026 budget-support disbursement to ongoing discussions between Sierra Leone and the Kingdom of the Netherlands on judicial cooperation. According to the Government, the European Commission formally communicated its decision regarding the 2026 disbursement in July. The reasons provided, the Government said, related to the timing of Sierra Leone’s request to amend the Financing Agreement and the resulting difficulty of completing the required processes within the 2026 reporting cycle. As a result, the European Commission proposed rescheduling the 2026 and 2027 disbursements to 2027 and 2028 respectively, with the targets for the 2027 disbursement already agreed. The Government acknowledged that the postponement of the 2026 disbursement represents a setback, b...
Post a Comment
Read more

Musa Tarawalie and the SLPP: What Could Be Behind the Growing Political Tensions?

Why Musa Tarawalie May Be Facing Friction Within the SLPP Opinion Note: This article represents my personal opinion and interpretation of recent political developments. It should not be taken as established fact or as a definitive account of the reasons behind the situation involving Hon. Musa Tarawalie and the Sierra Leone People’s Party (SLPP). The question of why Hon. Musa Tarawalie appears to be facing difficulties within the Sierra Leone People’s Party (SLPP) requires an understanding of the broader political calculations ahead of the 2028 general elections. In my view, the SLPP is determined to retain political power in 2028, and there have been indications of deliberate strategies aimed at achieving that objective through democratic and relatively smooth political processes. One of the arguments supporting this view is President Julius Maada Bio’s public assertion that, in Sierra Leone’s democratic political history, no political party has successfully won three...
Post a Comment
Read more

Sengeh Joins Global Drive to Mobilise $3.5B for Education

Chief Minister David Sengeh Joins Global Leaders to Mobilise $3.5 Billion for Education at UNGA81 New York, United States | September 23, 2026 Chief Minister of Sierra Leone, Dr. David Moinina Sengeh, has joined global leaders, private-sector representatives, civil society organisations and development partners in mobilising $3.5 billion in financing for education on the sidelines of the 81st United Nations General Assembly (UNGA81). The high-level event, held at the ECOSOC Chamber of the United Nations Headquarters in New York, formed part of the global Multiply Possibility campaign led by the Global Partnership for Education (GPE). The initiative seeks to strengthen education systems and expand learning opportunities for children and young people around the world. The event was convened by Italy, Nigeria and the Global Partnership for Education, bringing together governments and development partners to address the persistent global education financing gap and ...
4 comments
Read more