France has reiterated its unwavering 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 effort also aims to address the shortcomings of the international regulatory framework concerning war economies. The initiative seeks to foster a more cohesive approach to natural resource management, transforming it into a catalyst for peace, accelerating the global energy transition, stimulating digital transformation, and bolstering the resilience of worldwide supply chains.
During an Arria-formula meeting held in New York on Monday, July 13, 2026, at Kinshasa’s behest, Jérôme Bonnafont, France’s Ambassador and Permanent Representative to the UN, emphasized that natural resources now constitute a critical issue for international peace and security. In his assessment, the fierce competition for control over these vital resources remains a primary driver of contemporary conflicts. This struggle not only fosters instability but also provides a consistent funding source for armed groups and illicit exploitation networks.
“Indeed, this is a fundamental issue that the Congolese presidency of the Security Council has rightly placed at the heart of our discussions: the intrinsic link between natural resources and peace, which underpins 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, and also during an Arria-formula meeting organized by Sierra Leone a year ago. How can one deny it? The competition for controlling natural resources acts as both a factor of conflict and instability, while also serving as a revenue stream for far too many actors, both local and international, who engage in their illegal exploitation,” he asserted.
Ambassador Bonnafont specifically highlighted the precarious situation on the African continent, where, he noted, natural wealth continues to be plundered to benefit armed factions or external interests.
“This observation is particularly evident on the African continent, where its riches are subjected to pillaging by such actors, who exploit them to finance their operations or orchestrate their capture for the benefit of external powers. This illegal appropriation of resources fuels conflicts, exacerbates violence, and perpetuates the suffering of civilian populations. This is the case 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 dire situation in the Eastern DRC, the French representative directly implicated the M23 rebel group in the exploitation of mineral resources. The diplomat underscored that Congolese communities have endured the severe repercussions of this illicit exploitation for many years.
“This is also the case in the Eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, where the M23 controls between 15% and 30% of the world’s coltan production through the Rubaya site, thereby funding its illegal administration, in blatant violation of the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the Democratic Republic of Congo. Congolese populations have suffered for far too long from the effects of predation on their mineral resources, perpetrated by external actors and armed groups,” he declared.
France furthermore reiterated its urgent call for adherence to Resolution 2773 of the United Nations Security Council. Jérôme Bonnafont emphasized the critical need for 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 sustained neutralization of the FDLR.
He further reminded that this resolution explicitly mandates intensified efforts to combat the illicit exploitation of natural resources, particularly by leveraging international mechanisms for transparency and traceability of minerals.
“France once again urges all parties to comply with Security Council Resolution 2773, which demands the 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 pillaging of natural resources and the financing of conflict actors.”
The Democratic Republic of Congo continues to advance the activities planned under 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 chairmanship of Prime Minister Judith Suminwa Tuluka. This diplomatic sequence aligns with the priorities set by the Congolese presidency. The briefing notably highlighted the human cost of war economies and the imperative to strengthen prevention, survivor protection, the fight against impunity, and reparation mechanisms.
These initiatives unfold amidst a strategic partnership between the Democratic Republic of Congo and the United States concerning critical minerals, as well as the Washington Agreement signed between Kinshasa and Kigali. This agreement outlines de-escalation measures, the gradual withdrawal of Rwandan forces from Congolese territory, and the neutralization of armed groups operating in the Eastern DRC, particularly the FDLR, which Kigali perceives as a threat to its security. Despite this diplomatic framework, widely lauded upon its signing, the security situation remains acutely fragile. On the ground, the Doha process, facilitated by the State of Qatar to foster dialogue between Kinshasa and the AFC/M23 rebellion, also remains deadlocked.
The AFC/M23 rebels, whom Kinshasa, the United Nations, and several international partners accuse of receiving Rwandan support, maintain control over the cities of Goma and Bukavu, along with numerous other localities in North Kivu and South Kivu provinces. Clashes persist across various zones, while diplomatic efforts struggle to yield lasting results. This ongoing situation once again underscores the persistent disparity between announced diplomatic breakthroughs and the harsh realities observed on the ground.
