DRC urges UN toward new approach for natural resource governance

The Democratic Republic of Congo is pushing for a new approach to natural resource governance at the United Nations, seeking to transform these valuable assets into tools for conflict prevention rather than crisis management.

During an informal Arria-formula meeting in New York, DRC's Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Thérèse Kayikwamba Wagner, guided discussions focused on closing normative gaps. Kinshasa's proposal centers on three key pillars: evaluating a coherent framework that respects state sovereignty, ensuring resource traceability, and promoting local economic transformation.

Media reports highlight the DRC's strategic move to set its agenda ahead of a broader high-level debate on July 22, which will be chaired by President Félix Tshisekedi. This diplomatic push is directly linked to the country's mineral wealth, with reports indicating a strong push to accelerate exports of resources like lithium from Manono.

Minister of Foreign Trade Julien Paluku has explicitly demanded that operators prioritize local processing of lithium into lithium sulfate before any export. This policy aims to maximize the value added within the DRC, underscoring the nation's drive for economic sovereignty.