Natural wealth should empower nations, not fuel instability. This principle guided the Democratic Republic of Congo’s bold diplomatic stance at the United Nations this week.
On July 14, 2026, Foreign Minister Thérèse Kayikwamba Wagner delivered a powerful address at the UN’s high-level meeting on critical minerals for the global energy transition. Her message was clear: the DRC refuses to remain a mere supplier of raw materials. Instead, Kinshasa is pushing for a fundamental reshaping of how the world governs and benefits from its most strategic resources.
From raw exporter to industrial leader
Minister Wagner made a compelling case for transforming the DRC into Africa’s next industrial hub for critical minerals like cobalt, copper, and tantalum — essential components for electric batteries, digital technologies, and renewable energy systems.
The Congolese diplomat challenged the international community’s outdated approach: « The real question isn’t where these minerals come from, but where the value they generate actually stays. » She emphasized that true energy transition justice requires more than just access to resources — it demands investment in local infrastructure, energy systems, research, and modernized artisanal mining practices.
« We are no longer content to export wealth without reaping its benefits, » she declared. « The DRC will drive its own industrial transformation. »
Linking minerals, peace, and security
Beyond economic ambitions, Kinshasa used its UN platform to expose how illicit mineral exploitation fuels conflict in eastern DRC. Referencing findings from UN expert reports, Minister Wagner highlighted the case of Rubaya’s tantalum mines — supplying 15% of global demand — where over 1,400 tons of coltan were reportedly smuggled into Rwanda after M23 forces (backed by Kigali) seized control of the area. These operations reportedly generate $800,000 monthly for armed groups.
« The international community’s failure to sanction Rwanda despite documented evidence of mineral trafficking and armed group financing reveals critical flaws in our collective security architecture, » she stated.
Proposing a new global minerals governance framework
During the DRC’s presidency of the UN Security Council, Minister Wagner announced Kinshasa’s push for a binding international framework that:
- Connects natural resource governance directly to conflict prevention, peacebuilding, and sustainable development
- Holds all actors in the supply chain accountable — from producers and traders to financiers and industrial users
- Ensures mineral traceability systems actually combat fraud and armed group financing without penalizing legitimate artisanal miners
- Redistributes economic benefits more equitably across producing nations
The Congolese foreign minister stressed that this isn’t just about protecting DRC’s resources — it’s about reforming the entire global system that has long allowed resource-rich nations to remain economically marginalized despite their strategic importance to the world’s energy future.
By bringing these issues to the UN Security Council, Kinshasa seeks to elevate the minerals governance debate beyond technical discussions into a core component of international peace and security discussions.
