The UN initiated, in January 2003, the Kimberly Process (KP). Since then, 76 countries, representing 99.8 % of the world production of rough diamonds, take part in the process.

It is an international observatory whose objective is to contain the infiltration of blood diamonds.

The Kimberly Process is a veritable world network for preventing conflicts and fighting against rebellions, by exfiltrating blood diamonds. The Kimberly Process promotes supervised and legal diamond mining and trade.

The purpose of the Kimberly Process is to:

• Improve the follow-up of the traceability of rough diamonds of mines to the National Permanent Secretary of the Kimberly Process.
• Create a more transparent and better controlled diamond trade.
• Increase public revenues and attract foreign currencies.

The Kimberly Process translates government’s strong political good-will and commitment to conform to the principles and requirements of the Kimberly Process, as well as to observe international rules as regards transparency in the extractive industries.

The situation of Cameroon is as follows:

• 41 alluvial diamond occurrences
• Significant alluvial diamond potential on the Batouri Yaounde Ebolowa cross-border line
• Estimate of the alluvial diamond-bearing potential: between 3 and 5 million carats

N.B: 5 carats = 1 gramme

• 2003: The Head of State signed the instrument whereby Cameroon adhered to the Kimberly Process
• July 2007: The MINMIDT started a study with the technical expertise of the Bureau de Recherches Géologiques et Minières (BRGM)
• 2^nd November: Decree No. 2011/3666/PM of 2 November 2011 on the setting up, organization and operation of the certification system of the Kimberly Processin the Republic of Cameroon
• 3^rd November 2011: the Plenary Assembly of Kinshasa in the Democratic Republic of Congo requested Cameroon to complete its file
• 29 November: Decree No. 203/PM of 29 November 2011 to appoint officials of the National Permanent Secretariat of the Kimberly Process.
• Experts of the Diamond Valuation and Expertise Bureau) and minimum personal + headquarters available in the centre of Yaounde)
• 4 to 7 June: Washington DC., Cameroon is accepted as participating country during the intersessionmeeting
• 9 to 11 July: visit to Cameroon (in Bertoua, KETTE, Mobilong, Yaounde) of the experts of the World Kimberly Process Committee
• 14 August: Official notification of Cameroon’s admission as member of the Kimberly Process by Ambassador Guillian A MILOVANOVIC, President of the Kimberly Process
• 16 January: the mining company, C&K Mining, officially received the very first Cameroon’s Kimberly Certificate authorizing it to export diamonds, estimated at 600 carats.

USEFUL FACTS ABOUT THE PROJECT

The stakes of the Kimberly Process are:

• Improve the follow-up of the traceability of rough diamonds of mines to the National Permanent Secretary of the Kimberly Process.
• Create a more transparent and better controlled diamond trade.
• Increase public revenues and attract foreign currencies.

The challenges of the Kimberly Process are:

• Complete legalization of all artisan mining operations
• Systematic and total recording of all transactions from mining to marketing
• Various financial means and equipment

The prospects of the Kimberly Process are:

• Victory over conflict diamonds and fraud diamonds.
• Diamonds, a source of prosperity.
  • Diamonds contribute to sustainable development and peace.