Current Issue

 THE MOBILONG DIAMOND MINING PROJECT IN CAMEROON: CHALLENGES, OPPORTUNITIES, AND PATHWAYS TO SUSTAINABLE GOVERNANCE

Julius Anyu

School of Business and Public Administration

University of the District of Columbia

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Abstract

Cameroon possesses significant alluvial diamond resources, with 41 documented occurrences along the eastern frontier and an estimated potential of 3 to 5 million carats. Despite this endowment, the diamond mining sector has been characterized by governance failures, speculative ventures, environmental degradation, and limited benefits for local communities. This paper provides a critical analysis of diamond mining in Cameroon, tracing the history of the Mobilong diamond project and the C&K Mining scandal to expose the risks of inadequate resource verification. Drawing on the 2023 reassessment by Spaggiari, which revealed an average diamond grade of only 0.09 ct/m³—far below the breakeven grade of 1.5 ct/m³—the paper evaluates the economic viability of Cameroon's diamond deposits and argues that sustainable governance, rather than speculative extraction, must anchor the sector's future. 

Environmental consequences, including deforestation, mercury contamination, and biodiversity loss in ecologically sensitive regions adjacent to the Congo Basin, are examined alongside social impacts such as community displacement, labor exploitation, and child labor. The paper assesses Cameroon's participation in the Kimberley Process Certification Scheme, highlighting persistent traceability challenges rooted in pervasive informality. The December 2023 Mining Code and the establishment of the Société Nationale des Mines represent important governance reforms, yet implementation gaps persist. The paper concludes with integrated reform recommendations addressing digital traceability, community benefit-sharing, environmental restoration, and institutional capacity building, arguing that sustainable diamond mining requires a governance framework that balances economic development, environmental protection, and social justice.

Keywords: diamond mining, Cameroon, Kimberley Process, artisanal and small-scale mining, sustainable governance, resource curse