DRC wields UN gavel for july: a month of global diplomacy at center stage
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The Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) has taken center stage as the rotating President of the United Nations Security Council for the entire month of July 2026. This unprecedented diplomatic milestone arrives just six months after the DRC assumed its non-permanent membership for the 2026-2027 term. The last time the country held this influential position was over three decades ago, during the 1990-1991 session.
Under the guiding motto “More peace, more justice, more development, and more multilateralism,” this presidency is being led by Ambassador Zénon Mukongo Ngay. Kinshasa is leveraging this high-profile international platform to link collective security with sustainable development goals. The Congolese authorities aim to amplify Africa’s voice on global geopolitical balances.
The DRC’s top priority is the governance of natural resources, with a high-level public debate scheduled for July 22, 2026, led by President Félix Tshisekedi. This event will spotlight how illicit mineral exploitation fuels armed conflicts across the region. Another critical focus is combating sexual violence in conflict zones, a cause championed earlier this month by Prime Minister Judith Suminwa Tuluka.
While managing ongoing global crises such as the Middle East, Sudan, and Haiti, the DRC is also using this visibility to raise awareness about the devastating war in its eastern provinces. Without compromising its neutral role as Council President, Kinshasa is highlighting the humanitarian toll of foreign aggression and seeking stronger international sanctions against armed groups and their external backers.
