Indeed, the countries in the Central African sub-region are richly endowed with oil and mineral resources, especially diamonds.

However, the political situation in most of these countries is fragile with persistent security problems. The exploitation of these resources often constitutes the main source of public revenue, alongside the export of other raw materials such as timber.

Paradoxically, most of these countries are faced with poverty and an increase in external debt. As much as mining can improve the living conditions of the population if revenues are well managed, it can also present numerous social challenges, environmental issues, and fuel conflicts as was the case in Angola, Liberia, and Sierra Leone in the 1990s and currently in the Central African Republic (CAR).

This is why members of the Civil Society from Central Africa, united under RELUFA (Cameroon), CRAGG (CAR), CENADEP (DRC), and GAERN (DRC) member organizations of the Civil Society Coalition of the Kimberley Process in association with OSCJ (Angola), Muyissi Environment (Gabon), CDHD (Congo), are organizing this activity in order to establish a framework for discussion, analysis, and search of the civil society in Central Africa on diamond governance to better defend the rights of local communities; initiate a debate with regional governments to promote a transparent and healthy diamond sector, which contributes to socio-economic development and the improvement of the well-being of communities impacted by diamond extraction.

In her opening remarks, the Director General of Cenadep (National Center for Support to Development and Popular Participation), Gabrielle Pero, stated that for her organization, a member of the Civil Society Coalition of the Kimberley Process, the aim of this workshop is to provide a framework for analysis and research for collection and sharing of relevant information that can help decision-makers in the region's countries come together around concrete actions and projects that can promote the establishment of regional cooperation.