France has publicly reiterated its support for the Democratic Republic of Congo’s (DRC) initiative to place natural resource governance at the forefront of United Nations Security Council discussions. This vital effort also seeks to address the shortcomings in the international normative framework concerning war economies. The initiative aims to foster a more cohesive approach to managing natural resources, transforming them into a catalyst for peace, accelerating the global energy transition, stimulating digital transformation, and strengthening the resilience of worldwide supply chains.
During an Arria-formula meeting, convened by Kinshasa in New York on Monday, July 13, 2026, Jérôme Bonnafont, the French Ambassador and Permanent Representative to the UN, emphasized that natural resources have become a critical factor in international peace and security. He asserted that competition for control over these resources remains a primary driver of contemporary conflicts, not only fueling instability but also serving as a financial lifeline for armed groups and illicit exploitation networks.
“This is indeed a fundamental issue that the Congolese presidency of the Security Council has brought to the heart of our discussions: the link between natural resources and peace, which is central to numerous conflict situations and crises. This is precisely why the Council has intensified its monitoring of this subject, notably during a meeting under the American presidency last March, as well as an Arria-formula meeting organized by Sierra Leone a year ago. How can we deny it? The competition for control over natural resources acts both as a factor of conflict and instability, and as a source of revenue for far too many actors, both local and international, who engage in their illegal exploitation,” he stated.
Ambassador Bonnafont specifically highlighted the situation on the African continent, where, he noted, natural wealth continues to be plundered to benefit armed factions or external interests.
“This observation can be made particularly on the African continent, whose riches are subjected to pillaging by such actors, who exploit them to finance their activities or organize their capture for the benefit of external powers. This illegal appropriation of resources fuels conflicts, perpetuates violence, and prolongs the suffering of civilian populations. This is evident in Sudan, where the ongoing conflict is sustained by the plundering of gold and gum arabic, as documented by expert group reports,” he continued.
Addressing the volatile situation in eastern DRC, the French representative directly implicated the M23 in the exploitation of mineral resources. The diplomat underscored that Congolese populations have endured the consequences of this illicit exploitation for many years.
“This is also the case in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, where the M23 controls between 15% and 30% of the world’s coltan production through the Rubaya site, thereby financing its illegal administration, in violation of the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the Democratic Republic of Congo. Congolese communities have suffered for too long from the predation on their mineral resources, perpetrated by external actors and armed groups,” he declared.
France also renewed its urgent call for strict adherence to United Nations Security Council Resolution 2773. Jérôme Bonnafont stressed the imperative to cease hostilities, ensure the withdrawal of Rwandan Defence Forces from Congolese territory, end Rwandan support for the M23, and proceed with the neutralization of the FDLR.
He further reminded participants that this resolution advocates for intensified efforts to combat the illicit exploitation of natural resources, particularly by leveraging international mechanisms for mineral transparency and traceability.
“France once again calls on all parties to comply with Security Council Resolution 2773, which demands an immediate cessation of hostilities, the effective withdrawal of Rwandan Defence Forces from Congolese territory, an end to Rwandan support for the M23, and the effective neutralization of the FDLR by the Democratic Republic of Congo. This resolution also calls, I reiterate, for redoubled efforts to combat the illicit exploitation of natural resources, notably by mobilizing transparency and traceability mechanisms for mineral exports,” the French diplomat insisted during his address.
“The Council must utilize the tools at its disposal in conflict situations exacerbated by the illicit trafficking of natural resources. Several expert groups play an invaluable role in documenting these dynamics and their contribution to financing destabilizing activities, particularly in Sudan, the Democratic Republic of Congo, and the Central African Republic. Associated sanctions regimes must be deployed whenever necessary to sever the link between the plundering of natural resources and the financing of conflict actors.”
The Democratic Republic of Congo continues to advance its agenda during its presidency of the Security Council. This crucial meeting on natural resources follows a Council briefing dedicated to conflict-related sexual violence, held on July 8 under the leadership of Prime Minister Judith Suminwa Tuluka. This diplomatic sequence aligns with the priorities established by the Congolese presidency. The briefing notably highlighted the human cost of war economies and the urgent need to bolster prevention, protect survivors, combat impunity, and establish effective reparation mechanisms.
These initiatives unfold amidst a strategic partnership between the Democratic Republic of Congo and the United States concerning critical minerals, alongside the Washington Agreement signed between Kinshasa and Kigali. This agreement outlines measures for de-escalation, the progressive withdrawal of Rwandan forces from Congolese territory, and the neutralization of armed groups operating in eastern DRC, including the FDLR, which Kigali perceives as a threat to its security. Despite this diplomatic framework, widely applauded upon its signing, the security situation remains exceptionally precarious. On the ground, the Doha process, facilitated by Qatar to foster dialogue between Kinshasa and the AFC/M23 rebellion, also remains at an impasse.
Rebels of the AFC/M23, whom Kinshasa, the United Nations, and several international partners accuse of receiving Rwandan backing, maintain control over the cities of Goma and Bukavu, as well as numerous other localities within the Nord-Kivu and Sud-Kivu provinces. Clashes persist across various zones, while diplomatic endeavors struggle to yield lasting outcomes. This ongoing situation once again underscores the persistent disparity between announced diplomatic breakthroughs and the stark reality observed on the ground.
