African Diamond Group Nixes Claims It Opposes India as KP Chair

The African Diamond Producers Association (ADPA) has rejected media reports that its member nations have concerns about India taking over as Kimberley Process (KP) chair.

India has been an ADPA observer country since 2025. Claims in an article published in Diamond World using the ADPA logo and quoting African Diamond Council (ADC) chairman Dr. M’zée Fula Ngenge were inaccurate, misleading, and reflect his personal opinions, ADPA said last week. The comments do not reflect the views of ADPA or those of African diamond-producing countries, it added.

ADPA called on the news outlet to retract the article, which it said “contains misrepresentations and factual inaccuracies…including the unauthorized use of the ADPA official logo.” It also requested a correction to clarify the “governmental nature of ADPA” as well as its position on India’s KP chairmanship.

ADC is not affiliated with ADPA, which is an intergovernmental organization headquartered in Angola that represents Africa’s leading diamond-producing countries and promotes their interests in the global diamond industry. Meanwhile, the ADC is a separate nongovernmental, individual-led entity.

The KP named India as chair for 2026, after the United Arab Emirates (UAE) served a second term as “custodian chair.” Various countries had previously rejected other candidates, and a 100% consensus is required for the KP to enact any policies.

Image: Rough diamonds. (Shutterstock)