On Tuesday, June 23, 2026, the President of the Democratic Republic of Congo, Félix Tshisekedi, called for stronger collective action and a more assertive defense of Africa’s strategic interests on the global stage, citing the numerous challenges facing the continent.

Speaking to the press in Kinshasa following a discussion with his Burundian counterpart, Évariste Ndayishimiye, who also serves as the current chairman of the African Union, the Congolese head of state emphasized the need for African nations to demonstrate greater unity and solidarity in addressing modern challenges.

In line with this vision, Félix Tshisekedi announced he has invited President Évariste Ndayishimiye to a high-level meeting of the United Nations Security Council. President Tshisekedi is scheduled to chair this meeting in the United States during the Democratic Republic of Congo’s presidency of the council in July 2026.

“Africa is at a pivotal moment. Our continent must confront complex security challenges, persistent humanitarian crises, the impacts of climate change, global economic pressures, and the immense expectations of our youth,” President Tshisekedi stated. “Faced with these challenges, Africa must speak with greater coherence, act with greater solidarity, and defend its strategic interests with greater firmness. It is in this spirit that I have had the honor of inviting my brother, President Évariste Ndayishimiye, to participate in the high-level meeting that I will soon chair at the United Nations Security Council during the DRC’s presidency in July. This meeting will focus on the links between natural resources, peace, security, and sustainable development.”

The central theme of the summit—the connection between natural resources, peace, security, and sustainable development—is considered crucial by the Congolese leader for the Democratic Republic of Congo, the Great Lakes region, and the entire African continent. He expressed confidence that the participation of his Burundian counterpart would significantly contribute to the discussions.

President Tshisekedi further elaborated, “This theme is essential for our country, for the Great Lakes region, and for the entire African continent. Our natural resources must cease to be a factor of greed, predation, instability, and conflict. They must become a lever for peace, development, economic sovereignty, industrial transformation, and shared prosperity. I am convinced that the contribution of President Ndayishimiye, in his capacity as President of the Republic of Burundi and current Chairman of the African Union, will valuably enrich this reflection for the benefit of our continent.”

The Democratic Republic of Congo is set to assume the presidency of the United Nations Security Council in July 2026 as part of the monthly rotation among its members. The DRC’s term will follow Colombia’s in June and precede Denmark’s in August, following the English alphabetical order of member states. Both the DRC and Colombia are serving as non-permanent members for the 2026-2027 term.

In January 2026, the flags of five new non-permanent members of the UN Security Council for the 2026-2027 term were raised at the UN headquarters in New York. These nations are Bahrain, Colombia, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Latvia, and Liberia. A formal ceremony on Thursday, January 2, 2026, marked the beginning of their two-year mandate on the body responsible for authorizing peacekeeping operations, imposing sanctions, and shaping political and security responses to global crises.