During her mission to New York for the 81st session of the United Nations General Assembly, DR Congo Prime Minister Judith Suminwa Tuluka participated in a high-level roundtable on "Natural Resources, Artificial Intelligence, and New Geopolitics of Peace and Security" on September 29, 2026. The roundtable brought together global leaders to discuss pressing issues shaping the world's future. As the head of the DR Congo government, Suminwa emphasized the need for a strategic rethink of Africa's and her country's role in global value chains.
Suminwa highlighted the DR Congo's potential as a "solution country" due to its critical minerals and the Congo Basin's vast resources. She stressed the importance of enhancing the country's sovereignty, traceability, and responsibility in governing natural resources. This approach aims to ensure that the DR Congo and other African nations can harness their resources more effectively and responsibly. By doing so, they can create more value and drive sustainable development.
The Prime Minister also emphasized the need for increased local transformation, industrialization, and technical skills development in Africa. This would enable the continent to move beyond mere extraction and export of raw materials, creating more jobs and adding value to its resources. Furthermore, Suminwa underscored the importance of leveraging artificial intelligence as a development tool, rather than allowing it to exacerbate existing inequalities.
Suminwa advocated for a shift from a reactive approach to crises to a preventive one, particularly in conflicts related to strategic resources and supply chains. This proactive approach would help mitigate risks and ensure that countries rich in natural resources can manage their wealth more effectively. By doing so, they can reduce the likelihood of conflicts and foster more stable and sustainable development.
The DR Congo Prime Minister defended an approach grounded in peace, justice, and prosperity, enabling producer countries to fully benefit from the value created by their resources. This approach recognizes that countries rich in natural resources have a critical role to play in the global economy, particularly in the context of emerging technologies and shifting global power dynamics.
Suminwa's participation in the high-level roundtable reflects the DR Congo's commitment to engaging with global leaders on issues critical to its development and the continent's future. The event provided a platform for her to articulate the DR Congo's vision and priorities, particularly in the context of Africa's growing importance in global affairs.
The DR Congo's emphasis on repositioning itself and Africa in global value chains comes at a time when the continent is seeking to assert its influence and shape its own development trajectory. As global leaders continue to navigate complex challenges, Suminwa's call for a strategic rethink of Africa's role in global value chains is likely to resonate with policymakers and stakeholders worldwide.
Key points
- DR Congo Prime Minister Judith Suminwa calls for Africa and DR Congo to be repositioned in global value chains.
- Suminwa highlights DR Congo's potential as a "solution country" due to its critical minerals and the Congo Basin's vast resources.
- The Prime Minister emphasizes the need for increased local transformation, industrialization, and technical skills development in Africa.
