DRC President Addresses UN General Assembly on Peace, Security, and Development

UNGA 80th Session and Multilateralism

• 🇨🇩 President Félix-Antoine Tshisekedi Tshilombo of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) addressed the UN General Assembly's 80th session.
• 💡 He congratulated the new president and paid tribute to the predecessor, reaffirming trust in UN Secretary-General António Guterres.
• 🌍 The theme "Better together: 80 years and more for peace, development, and human rights" highlights the UN's role and the necessity of multilateralism in addressing global challenges.

DRC's Role in the UN Security Council and Peacekeeping

• 🛡️ The DRC will serve as a non-permanent member of the Security Council for 2026-27, prioritizing peace and security and conflict prevention/resolution.
• 🌍 The DRC supports the common African position for increased representation in the Security Council, advocating for two additional non-permanent and two permanent seats with veto rights.
• 🕊️ The country aims to contribute to reforms of peacekeeping and peacebuilding operations and the UN collective security system.

Natural Resources, Conflict, and Justice

• ⛏️ The illegal exploitation of natural resources is identified as a major cause of conflict, with the DRC advocating for exemplary governance of strategic minerals.
• ⚖️ A comprehensive approach is needed to break the link between mining profits and financing armed groups, requiring transparency in supply chains, due diligence, and sanctions against traffickers.
• 🕯️ The DRC calls for international support for the Independent Commission of Inquiry into massacres in the east of the country, emphasizing the need for truth, justice, and lasting peace.

Addressing Global Crises and Regional Conflicts

• 🔥 The world faces multifaceted crises, including protracted armed conflict, climate deregulation, and humanitarian crises, underscoring the necessity of collective solutions.
• 💔 The DRC highlights the ongoing armed conflict in its eastern region as a "silent genocide", with recent massacres attributed to M23 and Rwandan Defense Forces.
• 🤝 The DRC commends peace agreements and declarations with Rwanda and M23, emphasizing the non-negotiable conditions for peace, including the withdrawal of Rwandan troops and restoration of Congolese state authority.
• 🌍 The president also touched upon the wars in Gaza, Ukraine, Yemen, Myanmar, and Syria as examples of global instability.

Climate Action and Sustainable Development

• 🌳 The DRC is committed to stopping deforestation and promoting sustainable development, supporting initiatives like planting a billion trees by 2030.
• ⚡ The Grand Ingga project is presented as an ambition to harness the DRC's hydroelectric potential for clean energy, decarbonization, and regional integration.
• 💰 The DRC calls for reform of the international financial architecture to ensure fair access to concessional financing for developing countries and combat illicit financial flows.

Gender, Youth, and Future Aspirations

• 🚺 The DRC has increased women's representation in government from 17% to 32% since 2019.
• 🧑‍🤝‍🧑 A national youth policy has been adopted to ensure the full participation of young people in national life.
• 🌍 The DRC aspires to peace, justice, and development, ready to work with the international community for a stronger, more inclusive, and just UN, and to build a better future for all.