Angola and Botswana are deepening economic cooperation in diamonds, energy, and other sectors as Botswana's President Duma Boko visits Angola. Speaking during Boko's official visit to Luanda, President João Lourenço said stronger cooperation in the diamond sector could give the two major producers greater influence in the global diamond industry. Lourenço also raised the possibility of Botswana taking a stake in the 6.6-billion-dollar Lobito refinery, describing the project as strategic infrastructure that could help landlocked countries such as Botswana reduce their exposure to oil and fuel price volatility. The two countries have also agreed to jointly pursue a potential stake in De Beers and coordinate efforts to counter the growing threat posed by synthetic diamonds. Lulu Gaboo spoke to an energy analyst and economist, Tshepo Kgadima