The Central African Republic has been suspended from the Kimberley Process, an international body responsible for halting the trade in conflict-tainted diamonds, due to the military clashes in the country.

According to a document signed by current Kimberley Process chair South Africa and published on Monday, certified diamond trading with the CAR was suspended with immediate effect, Reuters reported.

The document was sent to the 80 member states of the Kimberley Process.

In early May, South African diplomat Welile Nhlepo, who is the chair ambassador of the Kimberley Process, warned of the conditions in the CAR in regard to the trade in diamonds, saying, "We face a situation where conflict diamonds continue to fuel rebel activities to remove elected officials from office."

On January 11, former CAR President Francois Bozizé and representatives of the Seleka rebels signed an agreement in Libreville, Gabon, after three days of negotiations brokered by regional neighbors.

However, the deal fell through, and Michel Djotodia, leading thousands of Seleka rebels, captured the CAR capital Bangui and proclaimed himself president after seizing power from Bozizé on March 24.

The Seleka rebels launched an offensive against the CAR government in December 2012.

There are many mineral resources, including gold and diamonds, in the Central African Republic. However, the country is extremely poor and has faced a series of rebellions and coups since it gained independence in 1960.