China urges non-regional powers to stop using DRC’s natural resources as bargaining chips at un

China has called on the international community to address the root causes of the conflict in eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), stressing that the illegal exploitation of natural resources remains a major driver of instability in the Great Lakes region.

Speaking before the United Nations Security Council, China’s ambassador and permanent representative, Fu Cong, noted that “the conflict in eastern DRC continues and the Ebola outbreak has resurfaced, further worsening the security and humanitarian situation in the DRC.” He emphasised that “the international community must work together to reverse the current trend as quickly as possible.”

The Chinese diplomat then underscored the need to tackle the economic roots of the conflict.

“The root causes of the conflict must be addressed swiftly and thoroughly. The DRC’s abundant natural resources should have been a foundation for national development, but they are being plundered by armed groups and trafficked, which fuels the conflict,” declared the Chinese representative to the UN on Friday, 26 June.

For Beijing, improved governance of the mining sector is a key lever for restoring peace. To this end, Fu Cong stated that “China supports the efforts of countries in the region to establish transparent and inclusive mining cooperation in order to break the cycle of illicit trade.”

The Chinese representative also called on the Security Council to strengthen support for regional initiatives. According to him, “the Council should support regional organisations and mechanisms to enhance transparency and traceability in the export of these resources.”

The ambassador urged external actors to adopt a more cooperative approach.

“Major powers that do not belong to the region should refrain from treating natural resources as a bargaining chip in resolving regional problems. We must promote open cooperation without a zero-sum logic, so that populations benefit from the development and exploitation of natural resources,” he stressed.

The war and instability that have plagued eastern DRC for more than three decades are also closely linked to economic predation. The control of several strategic mining sites, notably Rubaya, by armed groups, including the AFC/M23, fuels illicit mineral trade to neighbouring countries. According to Congolese authorities, this deprives the state of significant tax revenues and hinders economic development in eastern provinces. The Congolese government has long maintained that the conflict is above all an “economic war” waged by Rwanda through what it calls “proxies,” an accusation Kigali consistently rejects.

To help resolve the crisis, the United States facilitated the signing of the Washington Accord between the DRC and Rwanda. This agreement aims to address both security concerns and the economic issues linked to natural resource exploitation. However, its implementation has yet to yield the expected results. On several provisions, Kinshasa and Kigali accuse each other of failing to honour their commitments, each interpreting certain clauses in its own way.

The same observation applies to the Doha process, led by the State of Qatar, which aims to foster direct dialogue between the Congolese government and the AFC/M23. Despite several rounds of talks, concrete progress remains limited and the security situation on the ground remains largely unchanged.