France backs DRC’s diplomatic push on natural resources at UN
- Security
The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), currently serving as the July President of the United Nations Security Council, has prioritized a critical issue it believes is central to modern conflicts: the governance of natural resources. On Monday, July 13, Kinshasa hosted a UN Arria-formula meeting in New York, focusing on the links between natural resource exploitation and peace.
This diplomatic initiative will culminate on July 22 with a high-level debate chaired by President Félix Tshisekedi, themed: “Natural resource governance as the foundation of peace, security, and prosperity.” Through this effort, the Congolese Ministry of Foreign Affairs, led by Thérèse Kayikwamba Wagner, has launched an international reflection on what it describes as a “normative gap” in natural resource governance within peace and security contexts.
The DRC argues that existing frameworks—such as mineral traceability, corporate due diligence, and conflict financing prevention mechanisms—remain fragmented and lack cohesion. Kinshasa advocates for a more integrated international framework that aligns natural resource governance with conflict prevention and international security.
The DRC is pushing for a shift in the global approach: natural resources should no longer be viewed solely through an economic or commercial lens but as a strategic peace and security issue deserving full inclusion on the UN Security Council’s agenda. This stance has garnered attention from France, whose Permanent Representative to the UN reaffirmed Paris’s support for the initiative.
“Natural resources must serve as a lever for sustainable and equitable development, benefiting the populations and countries that possess them. They must be shielded from predators and diverted for malicious purposes. Looking ahead, France supports the DRC’s goal of strengthening and aligning international initiatives aimed at responsible resource use. We are fully prepared to contribute to the Council’s work supporting the high-level debate that the DRC will host next week, in the presence of President Félix-Antoine Tshisekedi,” stated Jérôme Bonnafont, France’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations.
This diplomatic push aligns with the DRC’s broader priorities during its Security Council presidency. The July 8 briefing on conflict-related sexual violence, led by Prime Minister Judith Suminwa Tuluka, highlighted the human cost of war economies and emphasized the need for stronger prevention, survivor protection, impunity eradication, and reparations mechanisms.
These efforts unfold amid a strategic partnership between the DRC and the United States on critical minerals and the Washington Agreement signed with Rwanda. While praised for its measures to de-escalate tensions and withdraw Rwandan forces, the security situation remains fragile. The Doha process, mediated by Qatar to facilitate dialogue between Kinshasa and the AFC/M23 rebellion, also remains stalled.
The AFC/M23 rebels, accused by the DRC, the UN, and international partners of receiving Rwandan support, continue to control Goma, Bukavu, and several towns in North and South Kivu. Ongoing clashes underscore the persistent gap between diplomatic progress and ground realities.
