Botswana is hoping for a quick separation of De Beers from the Anglo American group before the UK-listed diversified mining giant is exposed to a possible hostile takeover, President Mokgweetsi Masisi said on Wednesday.

Botswana, the world’s top diamond producer by value, is finalising a new ten-year gem sales deal agreed last June with De Beers. The two parties had agreed to finalise the deal by June 28 this year, but the proposed takeover of Anglo by the BHP Group BHP.AX has brought uncertainty to the sales agreement.