China urges global powers to halt resource exploitation in eastern drc

During a recent session at the United Nations, China urged the global community to address the underlying drivers of conflict plaguing the Eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). The nation highlighted that the illicit exploitation of natural resources remains a primary catalyst for instability across the Great Lakes region.

Ambassador Fu Cong, China’s Permanent Representative, informed the UN Security Council that the ongoing conflict in Eastern DRC, compounded by a resurgence of Ebola, has severely worsened the country’s security and humanitarian landscape. He emphasized the urgent need for concerted international action to reverse this concerning trend.

The Chinese diplomat underscored the critical importance of tackling the economic roots of the conflict.

“The fundamental causes of this conflict must be swiftly and thoroughly confronted. The DRC’s abundant natural resources, which should be the bedrock of national development, are instead being plundered by armed factions, fueling illicit trade that perpetuates the conflict,” China’s representative stated on June 26.

Beijing believes that enhancing governance within the mining sector is crucial for restoring peace. In this regard, Fu Cong affirmed China’s support for regional nations’ efforts to establish transparent and inclusive mining cooperation, thereby disrupting the cycle of illegal trade.

The Chinese envoy also called upon the Security Council to bolster its backing for regional initiatives. He suggested that “the Council should support regional organizations and mechanisms in strengthening transparency and traceability in the export of these valuable resources.”

The Ambassador further appealed to external actors to adopt a more collaborative approach.

“Major powers from outside the region should refrain from treating natural resources as mere bargaining chips in resolving regional disputes. Instead, they must foster open cooperation, free from zero-sum logic, to ensure that local populations genuinely benefit from the development and exploitation of these natural assets,” he stressed.

For over three decades, the persistent conflict and instability in Eastern Democratic Republic of Congo have been intrinsically linked to economic predation. Armed groups, including the AFC/M23, control several strategically important mining sites, such as Rubaya, facilitating illicit mineral trade with neighboring countries. Congolese authorities contend that this situation deprives the state of substantial fiscal revenues and significantly impedes economic development in the eastern provinces. The Congolese government has long asserted that the conflict is fundamentally an “economic war” orchestrated by Rwanda through its alleged “proxies,” an accusation consistently denied by Kigali.

In an attempt to de-escalate the crisis, the United States mediated the Washington Agreement between the DRC and Rwanda. This accord aimed to address both security concerns and the economic issues tied to natural resource exploitation. However, its implementation has yet to yield the anticipated results. Both Kinshasa and Kigali frequently accuse each other of failing to uphold their commitments, each interpreting certain provisions of the agreement differently.

A similar impasse is observed within the Doha process, facilitated by Qatar, which seeks to foster direct dialogue between the Congolese government and the AFC/M23. Despite numerous discussion rounds, concrete progress remains limited, and the security situation on the ground largely unchanged.