Luanda, Oct. 31, 2025 (Lusa) - Anglo American, the main shareholder in diamond company De Beers, is evaluating bids to sell its 85% stake, and Angola, which has submitted a bid, is confident, the secretary of state for Mineral Resources revealed on Friday.
In September this year, Angola submitted, through the state-owned diamond company Empresa Nacional de Diamantes de Angola (Endiama), a fully financed offer to acquire shares as part of the global divestment process of Anglo American, the main shareholder of the multinational diamond company De Beers, with 85%.
"Angola is confident," said Jânio Corrêa Victor, speaking to the press on the sidelines of today's presentation of the diamond production and marketing balance sheet for the first half of 2025.
According to Jânio Corrêa Victor, "it is Angola's desire to acquire some shares in De Beers" so that African countries, which are the world's largest diamond producers, can form a front to control "this large multinational".
The Angolan minister stressed that, in addition to African countries, notably Angola, Botswana, Namibia and South Africa, Russia, Canada and Australia are also leaders in diamond production.
"Our government's idea is to create a front of African countries that control and buy shares in this large multinational, De Beers, because our fear is that De Beers will fall into speculative hands and then not treat natural diamonds properly," said the Angolan secretary of state for mineral resources.
Jânio Corrêa Victor pointed out, without going into details about the negotiations, that African countries will be the main beneficiaries.
"It would be healthier for us if the four countries formed a front. This front would have a major impact on the global diamond market, which is our desire," he stressed.
"The process is underway. Anglo American, which owns 85%, is currently evaluating all requests, and we will wait, but we are confident," he said.
In September, when the Angolan government announced its interest in buying the shares held by Anglo American, it expressed its intention to acquire a strategic minority stake, proposing the creation of a pan-African consortium with other diamond producers, such as Botswana, but this month, Endiama raised its bid for the entire stake of De Beers held by Anglo American.
Angola, which leads Africa in diamond production in terms of value, ahead of Botswana, aims to become the world's largest diamond producer, said Jânio Corrêa Victor when speaking at today's session on the balance of diamond production and marketing in the first half of this year.
"We can proudly say that Angola is consolidating its position as an attractive source of gem-quality rough diamonds, which reinforces its strategic position in the international market," said the Angolan minister.
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