President of the Democratic Republic of the Congo Félix Tshisekedi has announced he will not attend the high-level United Nations Security Council meeting scheduled for July 22 in New York. The decision comes despite the significance of the event, which was meant to focus on natural resource governance as a foundation for peace, security, and prosperity.

The Congolese presidency of the Security Council for July 2026 had been preparing extensively for this meeting, following an Arria-formula meeting held in New York on July 13 under the leadership of the Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Thérèse Kayikwamba Wagner.

According to insiders, the president’s change of plans is directly linked to the evolving political and security dynamics within the country. The situation reportedly demands the president’s continued presence in Kinshasa to ensure close monitoring and strategic oversight.

While the exact nature of these developments remains undisclosed, the decision underscores the government’s priority to address pressing national issues over international engagements.