A Strategic Bid for Global Influence
Angola has officially entered the contest to acquire a controlling stake in De Beers, the world’s most recognized diamond company, as Anglo-American proceeds with its divestment plan. The bid, confirmed between October 24–26, 2025, positions Luanda as a direct rival to Botswana, which also seeks to consolidate its long partnership with De Beers. For Angola, the move signals a bold step to expand its footprint in the global gemstone market and leverage its fast-growing diamond sector as a platform for international economic influence.
From Producer to Power Broker
Long seen as a secondary producer behind Botswana and Russia, Angola has spent the last decade modernizing its diamond industry through reforms led by ENDIAMA E.P. and the National Diamond Trading Company (SODIAM). These reforms have boosted transparency, attracted foreign investment, and tripled export revenues. Securing De Beers would mark a historic transition from raw-material exporter to value-chain participant, enabling Angola to shape global pricing, branding, and distribution dynamics that have traditionally been dominated by Western corporations.
Geopolitics of a Gemstone Giant
Analysts view the prospective acquisition as more than a commercial transaction—it’s a symbolic rebalancing of power in the global diamond industry. With Botswana emphasizing heritage and partnership, and Angola projecting strategic ambition, the outcome could redefine governance and equity in gemstone trade across southern Africa. As negotiations advance, the key question remains whether Anglo American will favor continuity or competition—and whether Africa’s resource-rich states can transform extraction into enduring economic sovereignty.