The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), which currently holds the rotating presidency of the United Nations Security Council for July, has prioritized a critical agenda item in global peace discussions: the governance of natural resources. This issue, Kinshasa argues, is central to modern conflicts and sustainable development.

On Monday, July 13, the DRC convened a formal Arria-formula meeting in New York to address the intersection of 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: The Foundation for Peace, Security, and Prosperity.”

The Congolese Ministry of Foreign Affairs, led by Thérèse Kayikwamba Wagner, has highlighted what it describes as a critical normative gap in the international governance of natural resources in conflict and post-conflict settings. Existing frameworks—such as mineral traceability, corporate due diligence, and conflict financing prevention—are fragmented and lack coherence, according to DRC officials. Kinshasa is advocating for a more integrated international framework that aligns natural resource governance with conflict prevention and international security.

The DRC’s stance challenges the traditional view of natural resources as purely economic commodities. Instead, Kinshasa frames them as strategic pillars of peace and security, deserving of dedicated attention within the UN Security Council’s agenda. This approach has gained traction, particularly with France, whose permanent representative to the UN reaffirmed Paris’s full support for the initiative.

“Natural resources must serve as engines for equitable and sustainable development for the communities and nations that host them. They require protection from exploitation and diversion for malicious purposes. France aligns with the DRC’s objective to strengthen and harmonize international initiatives aimed at ensuring responsible resource governance. We are fully prepared to contribute to the Security Council’s upcoming high-level discussions, which will be led by President Félix-Antoine Tshisekedi next week,” stated Jérôme Bonnafont, France’s Permanent Representative to the UN.

This diplomatic push is part of the DRC’s broader agenda during its Security Council presidency. Earlier this month, a briefing on conflict-related sexual violence, held on July 8 under the leadership of Prime Minister Judith Suminwa Tuluka, underscored the human cost of war economies and the urgent need for prevention, survivor protection, accountability, and reparations.

The timing of these initiatives is significant. The DRC has recently strengthened its strategic partnership with the United States on critical minerals, while also finalizing an agreement with Rwanda aimed at de-escalation, the phased withdrawal of Rwandan troops from Congolese soil, and the neutralization of armed groups operating in eastern DRC—particularly the FDLR, which Kigali considers a security threat. Despite these diplomatic strides, the security situation remains precarious. Diplomatic efforts, including the Doha process mediated by Qatar to facilitate dialogue between Kinshasa and the M23 rebellion, have yet to yield tangible results.

The M23 rebels, accused by Kinshasa, the UN, and international partners of receiving Rwandan support, continue to control key cities such as Goma and Bukavu, as well as several localities in North Kivu and South Kivu. Ongoing clashes persist, while diplomatic efforts struggle to translate into lasting solutions on the ground. This disconnect between diplomatic announcements and ground realities once again fuels debates about the persistent divide between policy and practice.