France has reiterated its unwavering support for a significant initiative spearheaded by the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). This crucial proposal aims to place the governance of natural resources at the forefront of discussions within the United Nations Security Council, while also prompting a deeper examination of the shortcomings in the international normative framework concerning war economies. The overarching goal of this initiative is to foster a more coherent approach to managing natural resources, transforming them into a powerful leverage for peace, accelerating the global energy transition, stimulating digital transformation, and strengthening the resilience of worldwide supply chains.

During an Arria-formula meeting, organized on Monday, July 13, 2026, in New York at Kinshasa’s behest, Ambassador and Permanent Representative of France to the UN, Jérôme Bonnafont, underscored that the issue of natural resources now represents a major challenge to international peace and security. He emphasized that the competition for control over these vital resources remains a primary driver of contemporary conflicts. This competition not only fosters instability but also serves as a critical funding source for armed actors and illicit exploitation networks.

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

Jérôme Bonnafont specifically highlighted the situation on the African continent, where, he noted, natural wealth continues to be plundered for the benefit of armed groups or external interests.

“This observation is particularly evident on the African continent, whose riches are subject to pillaging 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 pillaging of gold and gum arabic, as documented by expert group reports,” he continued.

Addressing the situation in Eastern DRC, the French representative directly implicated the M23 in the exploitation of mineral resources. The diplomat reminded the international community that Congolese populations have endured the consequences of this illicit exploitation for several 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 violation of the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the Democratic Republic of Congo. The Congolese populations have suffered for too long from the predation on their mineral resources, perpetrated by external actors and armed groups,” he stated.

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

He further noted that this resolution advocates for intensified efforts to combat the illicit exploitation of natural resources by leveraging 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, the termination of 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 emphasized 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 a valuable 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 is thus continuing the activities outlined under its presidency of the Security Council. This meeting on natural resources follows a Council briefing dedicated to conflict-related sexual violence, held on July 8 under the presidency 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, as well as the necessity to bolster prevention, protect survivors, combat impunity, and strengthen reparation mechanisms.

These initiatives unfold within a context marked by a strategic partnership forged between the Democratic Republic of Congo and the United States concerning critical minerals, alongside the Washington agreement signed between Kinshasa and Kigali. This agreement notably provides for de-escalation measures, the gradual withdrawal of Rwandan forces from Congolese territory, and the neutralization of armed groups operating in Eastern DRC, particularly the FDLR, which Kigali considers a threat to its security. Despite this diplomatic framework, widely lauded upon its signing, the security situation remains extremely precarious. 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 being supported by Rwanda, continue to maintain control over the cities of Goma and Bukavu, as well as various other localities in the Nord-Kivu and Sud-Kivu provinces. Clashes persist across different zones, while diplomatic endeavors struggle to yield lasting results. This ongoing situation once again highlights the persistent disparity between announced diplomatic breakthroughs and the reality observed on the ground.