France backs DRC’s push for fair natural resource governance at UN

The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) is leveraging its current presidency of the United Nations Security Council to elevate a critical issue it believes underpins many contemporary conflicts: the governance of natural resources. On Monday, July 13, Kinshasa hosted a high-level diplomatic meeting in New York under the « Arria formula », focusing on the intersection between resource exploitation and peacebuilding. This initiative will culminate in a landmark high-level debate on July 22, chaired by President Félix Tshisekedi, centered on the theme: « Natural resource governance as the foundation for peace, security, and prosperity. »

The Congolese Ministry of Foreign Affairs, led by Thérèse Kayikwamba Wagner, has identified what it terms a « normative gap » in international frameworks governing natural resources in conflict and post-conflict settings. Current measures—including mineral traceability, corporate due diligence, and anti-conflict financing mechanisms—are deemed fragmented and insufficiently coordinated. Kinshasa is advocating for a more integrated international framework that aligns resource governance with conflict prevention and international security priorities.

The DRC is reframing the discourse around natural resources, shifting from purely economic considerations to recognizing them as strategic elements in peace and security agendas. This perspective has gained significant traction, particularly with France, which has publicly endorsed Kinshasa’s initiative.

« Natural resources must serve as a lever for sustainable and equitable development for the populations and countries that host them. They must be shielded from predatory exploitation and diversion for malicious purposes. France fully supports the DRC’s objective to strengthen and harmonize international initiatives aimed at ensuring the responsible use of these resources. We are fully prepared to contribute to the Security Council’s work that will accompany the high-level debate 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 agenda during its Security Council presidency. The July 8 briefing on conflict-related sexual violence, presided over by Prime Minister Judith Suminwa Tuluka, highlighted the human cost of war economies and underscored the urgent need for prevention, survivor protection, accountability, and reparations.

The timing of these initiatives is particularly notable given the DRC’s strategic partnerships, including the critical minerals agreement with the United States and the recent accord with Rwanda. The latter aims to de-escalate tensions, facilitate the phased withdrawal of Rwandan forces from Congolese territory, and neutralize armed groups operating in eastern DRC, including the FDLR, which Kigali views as a security threat. Despite these diplomatic advancements, the security situation remains precarious. The Doha process, mediated by Qatar to facilitate dialogue between Kinshasa and the AFC/M23 rebellion, continues to stall, with rebel factions maintaining control over key cities such as Goma and Bukavu, as well as other areas in North and South Kivu provinces. Ongoing clashes underscore the persistent disconnect between diplomatic progress and ground realities.