The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) has assumed the rotating presidency of the United Nations Security Council for the entire month of July 2026. This historic milestone comes just six months after the country began its term as a non-permanent member for the 2026-2027 mandate. The DRC last held this diplomatic position over three decades ago, during the 1990-1991 period.

Under the guiding principle of “More Peace, More Justice, More Development, and More Multilateralism,” this presidency is led by Ambassador Zénon Mukongo Ngay. Kinshasa is leveraging this international platform to connect collective security with sustainable development. Congolese authorities aim to amplify Africa’s voice on global stability matters.

The DRC’s top priority is the governance of natural resources, with a high-level public debate scheduled for July 22, 2026, led by President Félix Tshisekedi. This event will highlight how illicit mineral exploitation fuels armed conflicts. Another critical focus is combating sexual violence in conflict zones, a cause championed by Prime Minister Judith Suminwa Tuluka earlier this month.

While addressing ongoing global crises (Middle East, Sudan, Haiti), the DRC is capitalizing on this visibility to raise international awareness about the war in its eastern region. Without compromising its neutral role as Security Council president, Kinshasa is exposing the humanitarian toll of the aggression it faces. The ultimate goal is to secure stronger international sanctions against armed groups and their external backers.