Therese Kayikwamba Wagner at the UN
  • Sécurité

The Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), a nation rich in some of the world’s most strategically vital minerals, took center stage at a high-level United Nations meeting in New York on Tuesday, 14 July. The event focused on critical minerals essential for the global energy transition, convened by the UN Secretary-General to address governance challenges surrounding these resources.

Led by Minister of State Thérèse Kayikwamba Wagner—who oversees Foreign Affairs, International Cooperation, Francophonie, and Congolese Diaspora affairs—the DRC delegation engaged in discussions alongside the country’s Permanent Mission to the United Nations.

In her address, the Foreign Minister emphasized that for the DRC, the issue of critical minerals transcends mere economic considerations. Highlighting the situation in the eastern regions, particularly in Rubaya, a major coltan mining hub, she underscored the severe consequences of unregulated exploitation.

«For countries like mine, this is no longer just about development. Illegal exploitation undermines state authority, erodes sovereignty, and can lead to violations of territorial integrity. The case of Rubaya is stark. Its mines account for roughly 15% of global tantalum demand. According to UN expert reports, at least 1,400 tonnes of coltan were clandestinely smuggled into Rwanda within a year of being seized by the M23—a group supported by Kigali—generating approximately $800,000 monthly for the armed faction,» she stated.

The Minister also condemned the UN’s failure to impose sanctions on Rwanda’s Defence Forces, despite documented evidence provided by UN experts linking the Rwandan military to the illicit mineral trade.

«Yet, despite overwhelming evidence, Rwanda’s Defence Forces remain un-sanctioned by the UN. This reflects both a failure to enforce existing mechanisms and a broader deficiency in the international governance framework. Too often, the exploitation of natural resources is treated as a development issue alone—even when it fuels armed conflict, undermines sovereignty, and violates territorial integrity,» she declared.

During her intervention, Minister Kayikwamba Wagner reaffirmed the DRC’s commitment—within its current presidency of the UN Security Council—to advocate for a framework that directly links natural resource governance to conflict prevention and peacebuilding.

«This is why the Democratic Republic of the Congo, during its presidency of the Security Council, is championing a more coherent approach: one that connects natural resource governance to conflict prevention, international peace and security, and shared prosperity. We welcome the Secretary-General’s guiding principles and recommendations, but these will only matter if they translate into measurable change on the ground,» she asserted.

The DRC’s Foreign Minister also called for more balanced partnerships with mineral-producing nations, stressing shared responsibility across the entire value chain.

«Partnerships must go beyond securing access to raw materials. They should support local and regional value addition, infrastructure development, technology transfer, skills training, industrialization, market access, and financing. Responsibility must extend across the entire value chain—from the mine to the market. Producers, traders, processors, financial institutions, manufacturers, and consumer countries all share this duty,» she emphasized.

Addressing traceability, she argued that systems must effectively combat fraud and armed group financing without penalizing legitimate artisanal miners.

«Traceability must target fraud, smuggling, and conflict financing while protecting legitimate small-scale producers. It should not create new barriers to market access or shift full compliance responsibility onto producing countries alone. This initiative intersects with multiple Sustainable Development Goals: clean energy, decent work, industrialization, responsible production, climate action, strong institutions, and global partnerships,» she explained.

Concluding her remarks, the Foreign Minister stressed that the success of the global energy transition must be measured not only by industrial output but also by its impact on the people and communities whose resources make this transition possible.

«Progress toward one goal must never come at the expense of another. Ultimately, the success of the energy transition will not be measured solely by the number of batteries, electric vehicles, or wind turbines produced. It will also be measured by whether the countries, workers, and communities whose resources enable this transition are safer, more sovereign, and more prosperous because of it,» she concluded.

These remarks come amid a strategic partnership between the DRC and the United States on critical minerals, as well as the Washington Agreement signed between Kinshasa and Kigali. The latter outlines measures for de-escalation, the gradual withdrawal of Rwandan forces from Congolese soil, and the neutralization of armed groups—including the FDLR, which Kigali considers a security threat.

Despite diplomatic progress widely praised at the time of signing, the security situation remains fragile. On the ground, the Doha Process, facilitated by Qatar to mediate between Kinshasa and the M23 rebel group, remains stalled. The M23, which the DRC, the UN, and several international partners accuse of receiving Rwandan support, continues to control cities such as Goma and Bukavu, along with other areas in North and South Kivu provinces. Ongoing clashes persist, while diplomatic efforts struggle to yield lasting results—once again highlighting the persistent gap between announced diplomatic advances and ground realities.