Botswana hopes to continue its relationship with De Beers and is optimistic that talks for a new diamond sales contract will be successful.
Before its current contract, signed in 2011, expires later this year, Botswana is in the process of negotiating a new sales agreement with De Beers, a division of Anglo American Plc (AAL.L).
Threats from President Mokgweetsi Masisi to withdraw from the talks if Botswana doesn’t win a larger share of the rough diamonds produced by Debswana, their 54-year-old joint venture in the diamond mining industry, have stoked rumours that the government may sever ties.