Several African governments and private investor groups are exploring the possibility of acquiring equity in De Beers as its parent company, Anglo American, moves ahead with plans to divest its controlling stake. The De Beers chief executive said interest has come from a mix of African states and business led consortia, underscoring growing regional appetite for ownership in strategic natural resource assets. The development was reported by Reuters, which cited company executives familiar with the discussions.
Anglo American owns about 85 percent of De Beers and has been reviewing options to sell down or exit the investment as part of a wider restructuring. Reuters reported that countries including Botswana, Angola and Namibia have shown interest, alongside private sector groups, although no binding agreements have been announced. De Beers is estimated to be worth close to $5 billion, making it one of the most significant mining assets currently under review.
Botswana, which already holds a 15 percent stake in De Beers through its long standing partnership, has been particularly vocal about increasing its ownership. President Duma Boko said the country is actively pursuing a larger stake as part of efforts to deepen value capture from its diamond resources, as reported by international media including Semafor. Angola’s state diamond company and other regional players have also been linked to the process.
Analysts say rising interest from African states and business groups reflects a broader shift toward greater local control of mineral wealth. Market observers note that increased African ownership in De Beers could reshape governance of the global diamond industry while aligning the company more closely with the economic priorities of producer countries, according to commentary cited by Yahoonews.
