Empower Africa will welcome an international delegation of diamond and jewelry professionals to Sierra Leone for the 9th Peace Diamond Trade Mission, October 11–16, 2026, reconnecting the global diamond industry with the people and communities at the source of the natural diamond supply chain.
The six-day mission will bring together diamantaires, manufacturers, retailers, designers, traders, mining professionals, investors, entrepreneurs and industry leaders for direct engagement with artisanal mining communities, government officials, local businesses and community development initiatives across Sierra Leone.
Unlike a traditional conference or trade show, the Peace Diamond Trade Mission takes participants directly to the source—providing an opportunity to meet the people behind natural diamonds, better understand the supply chain on the ground, and build relationships across the industry and producing communities.
Originally established by the Rapaport Group and now organized by Empower Africa, the Peace Diamond Trade Mission has welcomed more than 50 delegates from over 15 countries.
“As transparency, traceability and responsible sourcing become increasingly important to the natural diamond industry, there is tremendous value in experiencing the source firsthand,” said Ezi Rapaport, CEO of Empower Africa. “When you stand beside the people who discover these diamonds, you gain a deeper appreciation of both the opportunity and the responsibility our industry carries.”
Experiencing the Source
During the mission, delegates will:
1) Visit artisanal diamond mining communities and active mining
2) Meet miners, exporters, local entrepreneurs and community
3) Engage with senior government officials and industry
4) Visit the Peace Diamond Village and its community development
5) Explore responsible sourcing, transparency and traceability in
6) Discover broader business and investment opportunities in Sierra
From One Diamond to Lasting Impact
The mission traces its roots to the 709-carat Peace Diamond, discovered in Koryardu, Sierra Leone, in 2017. Its transparent international sale demonstrated how the value of a natural resource could be connected with tangible benefits for the community where it originated.
Proceeds from the Peace Diamond, together with ongoing support from partners, donors and supporters, helped launch and expand community development initiatives including education, healthcare, clean water, improved road access, solar energy and internet connectivity.
Today, the Peace Diamond Village School serves more than 300 students from the village and more than ten surrounding communities, while the Peace Diamond Medical Center serves residents across the surrounding area.
“People often say it takes a village to raise a child. The Peace Diamond has shown us that it can also take an industry to help transform a village,” Rapaport said. “That’s what this mission is about, bringing together miners, communities, governments, civil society, businesses and the global diamond industry to build trust and create lasting opportunities.”
The mission’s impact is felt well beyond the delegates themselves.
“The Peace Diamond Trade Missions have helped put a human face to business, particularly in the mining sector. The experiences shared and testimonies of lives touched are truly heartwarming and demonstrate the impact that responsible trade and meaningful industry engagement can have on our communities. We appreciate the Rapaport Group for initiating this mission and Empower Africa for continuing to lead it in Sierra Leone,” said Emmanuel Konjoh, Chief Director and Professional Head at the Ministry of Trade and Industry for the Republic of Sierra Leone.
“After 35 years in the jewellery industry, I had studied gemology and worked with both polished and rough diamonds, but I had never seen a diamond mine in person. The Peace Diamond Trade Mission gave me a first-hand understanding of where the diamond journey begins and challenged my expectations of Sierra Leone. I was impressed by the country, its people and the overall experience, and I would encourage others in the industry to come and experience it for themselves,” said Benny Golan, Founder of Shula New York and a 2026 Peace Diamond Trade Mission delegate.
With the 10th anniversary of the Peace Diamond’s discovery approaching in March 2027, the October mission offers a timely opportunity to see how the Peace Diamond story has evolved nearly a decade after its discovery. A limited number of places remain for qualified participants interested in joining this October’s delegation; the next Peace Diamond Trade Mission will follow April 11–16, 2027.
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