Central African Republic wants to lift ban on diamond exports

The Central African Republic is calling for an end to the ban on their export of diamonds, saying it requires tax revenues from sales to help restart its tumbled economy. The diamond trade, the transitional government's mines minister says, has nothing to do with the conflict that has left 2.3 million people in need of assistance. The Kimberley Process inactivated its diamond trading with the country in May after an alliance of rebels protested against President Francois.

Reports claim that as many as 10 percent of the country's population of 4.5 million may have left the country as sectarian violence spreads between the Christian majority and Muslims, who account for about 15 percent of the population. However, Partnership Africa Canada (PAC) research director Alan Martin said that lifting the ban isn't likely to happen anytime soon since the verification mission was unable to visit the country because the Government could not guarantee its safety and that there is instability in both eastern and western diamond mining areas. The new government claims they need the tax revenue from the diamond exports as diamond revenues support a quarter of the population.