India to Chair KP, Ending Year-Long Impasse

(IDEX Online) - India is to chair the Kimberley Process (KP) from 1 January 2026, ending more than a year of politically fraught deadlock.

The UAE chaired KP for a second year during 2025 - an unusual occurrence - after members failed to agree on a successor at the 2024 plenary.

And it could have taken on the role for an unprecedented third term, had it not been for opposition from South Africa. All KP decisions require 100 per cent consensus.

At the 2025 plenary, held in Dubai in November, they again failed to reach a consensus. A bid by Belarus was blocked by Western countries over Russia ties; Qatar faced Israeli opposition; Zimbabwe withdrew at the last minute.

Thailand was initially designated as vice chair for 2025 - which would have led it assuming the chair the following year - but then withdrew. Ghana has since been announced as vice chair for 2026, and as chair for 2027.

The impasse has, however, now been resolved, with unanimous agreement that India should serve as chair for 2026.

It is technically serving as vice chair from 25 December, the date of the announcement, until it steps up chair KP on 1 January.

It will be the third time India has chaired KP since its foundation in 2003 (it was also chair in 2008 and 2019).