The government denies military involvement in illegal mining

In a bid to increase state revenue the Angolan government wants to encourage illicit diggers to sell their stones to the state owned marketing company for diamonds, SODIAM.

Currently many garimpeiros trade in the Democratic Republic of Congo, which shares a notoriously porous border with Angola.

On Monday Angola's vice minister for geology and mines, Carlos Sumbula, announced that garimpeiros have a 45-60 day period to apply for a prospecting licence with the authorities.

The term 'garimpeiro', he said, is going to stop.

Industry dubious

However industry analysts doubt the government's plan will work.

A foreign producer based in Luanda says the majority of garimpeiros are illegal immigrants who will not present themselves to the authorities for fear of being expelled from the country.

Another problem is the price of diamonds.

From raw material to finished product

Garimpeiros cross the border to sell their stones because Angola's 47 buying offices, controlled by Angola's selling corporation Ascorp, have cut prices by up to 30% this year.

Widespread allegations concerning the role of senior army officials in the diamond industry is another problem.

Last week a foreign diamond producer based in Angola said that generals from the national army employ thousands of garimpeiros to prospect illegal concessions.

Mr Sumbula has denied such allegations.