Since the first sanctions on Russia over the Ukraine conflict, the G7 countries have targeted Russian diamond exports. Soon after the conflict intensified, direct shipments of Russian rough to the US and the UK were prohibited. Despite warnings about the industry’s grave ramifications, the G7 agreed last year to expand sanctions on Russian gems.

Authorities in Angola, Botswana and Namibia have asked the Group of Seven (G7) countries to remove a provision that obligates diamond producers to send them to Belgium for subsequent certification, the media reported on Friday, citing Botswana President Mokgweetsi Masisi.

“We wrote a letter, we authored the main letter, we shared it with other producing countries namely Namibia and Angola, and we asked them to be co-signatories and with minor amendments we all co-signed and sent it to G7, and we have not gotten a response,” he said, as cited by the media.

Masisi stressed that the G7’s decision to track diamonds harms the interests of African countries, especially Botswana, which ranks first in Africa in terms of diamond production.

“The G7 traceability mechanism poses an unfair burden on African diamond producers. We cannot agree to an attempt to undermine our quest for development by taking charge and responsibility of our own value addition of our resources,” Masisi reportedly said. “Because if you make Belgium, Antwerp the single node for verification, gosh, what impudence. When we mine our diamonds here and we are certain they are mined here, and you add another layer of cost, delay and time and risk to direct interaction with customers and clients and you take them still to Antwerp, it’s not acceptable.”

Moreover, the president noted that the certification system required by the G7 has led to disruptions in the global diamond trade.