The missing diamond.
Authorities had unveiled the stone just weeks after the country’s decades-long ban on rough-diamond exports was lifted, and it was hailed as a sparkling symbol of economic recovery. This promise soon gave way, however, to familiar patterns of opacity, predation and capture. The incident reflects a broader trend. In the CAR, the mining sector is in the grip of exploitative networks that thrive on the very violence they perpetuate. Historically dominated by actors with ties to China and Lebanon, as well as neighbouring countries such as Cameroon, Chad and Sudan, the sector is now witnessing the emergence of foreign security allies, including Wagner and Rwanda. Their methods differ greatly: Wagner relies on terror and predation to achieve its economic objectives, whereas Rwanda pursues active economic diplomacy, combining formal investments with shadow networks. Since late 2020, Wagner and Rwandan forces have become key players in the CAR. By rescuing the government from a rebel...