France has reiterated its steadfast support for the Democratic Republic of Congo’s (DRC) initiative to place natural resource governance at the forefront of discussions within the United Nations Security Council. This crucial initiative also seeks to address shortcomings in the international normative framework concerning war economies, aiming to foster a more coherent approach to natural resource management. The objective is to transform these resources into catalysts for peace, accelerate the global energy transition, stimulate digital transformation, and bolster the resilience of worldwide supply chains.

During an Arria-formula meeting held in New York on Monday, July 13, 2026, spearheaded by Kinshasa, Ambassador Jérôme Bonnafont, France’s Permanent Representative to the UN, underscored the paramount importance of natural resources as a key factor in international peace and security. He highlighted that the intense competition for control over these vital resources remains a primary driver of contemporary conflicts. This competition not only fuels instability but also serves as a significant funding source for armed groups and illicit exploitation networks.

“Indeed, this is a fundamental issue that the Congolese presidency of the Security Council has brought to the core of our discussions: the link between natural resources and peace, which lies at the heart of numerous conflict situations and crises. This is precisely why the Council has intensified its scrutiny of this matter, particularly during a meeting under the American presidency last March, and at an Arria-formula meeting organized by Sierra Leone a year ago. How can one deny it? The competition for control of natural resources acts as both a factor of conflict and instability, and a source of revenue for far too many actors, both local and international, who engage in their illegal exploitation,” he stated.

Ambassador Bonnafont specifically drew attention to the situation across the African continent, where, he noted, abundant natural wealth continues to be plundered, benefiting armed factions or external interests.

“This observation is particularly evident on the African continent, where its riches are subjected to pillage by such actors, who exploit them to finance their activities 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 in expert group reports,” he continued.

Addressing the volatile situation in the eastern DRC, the French representative directly implicated the M23 rebel group in the exploitation of mineral resources. The diplomat emphasized 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 financing its illegal administration, in flagrant violation of the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the Democratic Republic of Congo. Congolese populations have suffered for too long from the predation of their mineral resources, perpetrated by external actors and armed groups,” he declared.

France also reiterated its urgent call for strict adherence to United Nations Security Council Resolution 2773. Jérôme Bonnafont stressed the imperative to cease hostilities, ensure the effective withdrawal of Rwandan Defense Forces from Congolese territory, end Rwandan support for the M23, and neutralize the FDLR effectively.

Furthermore, he reminded the Council that this resolution mandates intensified efforts to combat the illicit exploitation of natural resources, primarily through robust international mechanisms for mineral transparency and traceability.

“France once again urges all parties to comply with Security Council Resolution 2773, which demands an immediate cessation of hostilities, the effective withdrawal of Rwandan Defense 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 mechanisms for transparency and traceability of mineral exports,” the French diplomat insisted during his intervention.

“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 funding of conflict actors.”

The Democratic Republic of Congo continues to advance the agenda set for its presidency of the Security Council. This meeting on natural resources follows a Council briefing on conflict-related sexual violence, held on July 8 under the chairmanship of Prime Minister Judith Suminwa Tuluka. This diplomatic sequence aligns with the priorities established by the Congolese presidency. The briefing notably highlighted the human cost of war economies and the critical need to strengthen prevention, protect survivors, combat impunity, and implement effective reparation mechanisms.

These initiatives unfold against a backdrop marked by the strategic partnership forged 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 measures for de-escalation, the gradual withdrawal of Rwandan forces from Congolese territory, and the neutralization of armed groups operating in eastern DRC, including the FDLR, which Kigali perceives as a security threat. Despite this diplomatic framework, widely lauded upon its signing, the security situation remains exceptionally 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, alongside numerous other localities in North Kivu and South Kivu provinces. Clashes persist in various areas, while diplomatic endeavors struggle to yield sustainable results. This persistent disparity between announced diplomatic breakthroughs and the on-the-ground reality once again reignites the debate.