On Tuesday, July 14, the Democratic Republic of Congo took center stage at a high-level United Nations meeting in New York, where critical minerals for the global energy transition were the focal point. The event, convened by the UN Secretary-General, brought together world leaders to address governance challenges surrounding minerals essential for the transition to cleaner energy sources.

Led by Thérèse Kayikwamba Wagner, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs, Cooperation, Francophonie, and Congolese Abroad, the DRC delegation highlighted the deep connection between mineral governance, peace, and sustainable development.

In her address, the Foreign Minister emphasized that for the DRC, the issue of critical minerals extends far beyond economic considerations. She underscored the destabilizing impact of illicit mining activities in the eastern part of the country, particularly in Rubaya, a key coltan mining hub.

“For nations like ours, this is no longer just an issue of development. Illicit exploitation undermines state authority, erodes sovereignty, and can lead to territorial violations. Rubaya is a stark example. Its mines account for approximately 15% of global tantalum demand. According to UN experts, at least 1,400 tons of coltan were clandestinely smuggled into Rwanda in the first year following their seizure by the M23 armed group, a Rwanda-backed faction, generating roughly $800,000 monthly for the group,” she stated.

Wagner also criticized the lack of UN sanctions against Rwanda’s Defense Forces despite documented evidence provided by UN experts linking them to the conflict.

“Despite overwhelming evidence, Rwanda’s Defense Forces remain unlisted under UN sanctions. This reveals both a failure to enforce existing measures and a broader flaw in the international framework. Too often, the governance of natural resources is confined to the realm of development, even when illicit exploitation fuels armed conflict, erodes sovereignty, and violates territorial integrity,” she asserted.

The DRC, currently presiding over the UN Security Council, reaffirmed its commitment to fostering a governance model that links natural resource management directly to conflict prevention, peacebuilding, and international security.

“During our presidency of the Security Council, the DRC advocates for a more coherent framework that ties natural resources to conflict prevention, peace, and shared prosperity. We commend the Secretary-General’s guiding principles and actionable recommendations, but these will remain empty words unless they translate into measurable on-the-ground changes,” Wagner emphasized.

The Foreign Minister also stressed the need for balanced partnerships with critical mineral-producing countries. She called for collective responsibility among all stakeholders in the mineral value chain.

“Partnerships must go beyond securing access to raw materials. They should support local and regional value addition, infrastructure, technology transfer, skills development, industrialization, and access to financing and markets. Responsibility must extend across the entire value chain. It cannot end at the mine’s gate. Producers, traders, processors, financial institutions, manufacturers, and consumer countries must all share accountability,” she declared.

Addressing traceability, Wagner argued that it should effectively combat fraud and armed group financing without penalizing legitimate artisanal miners.

“Traceability must combat fraud, smuggling, and conflict financing without excluding legitimate artisanal producers, creating new market barriers, or placing undue compliance burdens solely on producing countries. This approach aligns with the Sustainable Development Goals: clean energy, decent work, industrialization, responsible production, climate action, strong institutions, and global partnerships,” she explained.

The DRC’s Foreign Minister concluded by stressing that the success of the global energy transition must be measured not only by industrial output but also by its impact on the communities where these minerals are sourced.

“Progress toward one goal must never come at the expense of another. Ultimately, the success of the energy transition will not be measured solely by the number of batteries, electric vehicles, or wind turbines produced. It will be measured by whether the countries, workers, and communities whose resources make this transition possible are safer, more sovereign, and more prosperous as a result,” she concluded.

These remarks follow the DRC’s strategic partnership with the United States on critical minerals and the Washington Agreement signed with Kigali. While the agreement includes de-escalation measures, the gradual withdrawal of Rwandan forces from Congolese territory, and the neutralization of armed groups like the FDLR—considered a security threat by Rwanda—the security situation in eastern DRC remains precarious. Diplomatic efforts, including the Doha process mediated by Qatar, have yet to yield lasting results. Meanwhile, the M23 rebels, accused by Kinshasa, the UN, and international partners of receiving Rwandan support, continue to control cities like Goma and Bukavu and multiple areas in North Kivu and South Kivu. Clashes persist, and diplomatic initiatives struggle to produce tangible outcomes.