Invest in DR Congo Ball at UNGA 2025: Catalyst for Green Transition or Security Challenge?

Context

The Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) is entering United Nations General Assembly (UNGA 2025) with a bold message: it intends to position itself as a cornerstone of the global green transition. Holding over 70% of the world’s cobalt reserves and significant deposits of copper, lithium, and rare earths, the DRC’s role in global supply chains for electric vehicles, renewable energy, and digital infrastructure is unmatched.

The “Invest in DR Congo Ball & Business Roundtable,” scheduled for 23 September 2025 in New York, Conference Gala & Business Expo, 18:00–23:00 (local time) is designed to spotlight these assets. It will promote investment opportunities across mining, energy, digital infrastructure, and agriculture, while presenting Kinshasa as a credible partner for sustainable development.

Government Delegation

A high-level delegation will attend, underscoring the state’s intent to present a unified strategy for attracting capital:

• President Félix Tshisekedi
• Minister of Planning – Guyllain Nyembo
• Minister of Foreign Trade – Julien Paluku Kahongya
• Minister of Mines – Louis Watum Kalenga
• Minister of Energy – Aimé Sakombi Molendo
• Minister of Posts & Telecommunications – José Mpanda Kabangu
• Minister of Digital Economy – Kibassa Maliba
• Heads of Agencies: ANSER, ANAPI, ANAPEX

This cross-ministerial presence signals a coordinated approach linking mineral resources, energy reforms, and digital expansion into one investment narrative.

Implications

Security & Governance

Despite the polished presentation, investors remain cautious. The DRC’s eastern provinces face persistent insecurity, raising concerns about the protection of infrastructure, personnel, and transport routes. For the government, ensuring credible safeguards for operations will be decisive in converting international pledges into actual projects.

Business Climate

The DRC continues to struggle with structural obstacles: corruption, weak contract enforcement, and limited regulatory predictability. Without reforms, the country risks undermining its message of being a reliable partner.

Geopolitical Positioning

By hosting this event at the UNGA, Kinshasa aims to elevate its profile beyond Africa and signal to global markets that it is open for business, competing directly with other resource-rich states in the global energy transition.

Risk Environment – Q3 2025

• Security Risk: High – Ongoing conflict in the east and fragile enforcement capacity.
• Political Risk: Moderate – Strong presidential backing, but fragile institutions.
• Economic Risk: Moderate – Huge potential tied to minerals and energy, but vulnerable to commodity shocks.
• Operational Risk: Moderate – Infrastructure gaps, red tape, and corruption continue to complicate entry and expansion.

ASA Intelligence Brief

The upcoming DRC investment gala represents both opportunity and risk. African Security Analysis (ASA) identifies three priority tracks for stakeholders:

1. Investor Security Guarantees – Evaluating whether state and private actors can secure energy and mining corridors against insurgent or criminal disruption.

2. Regulatory Follow-Through – Assessing the credibility of Kinshasa’s promises on transparency and enforcement.

3. Competitive Positioning – Understanding how the DRC intends to differentiate itself from competitors like Zambia or Mozambique in the race for green-transition capital.

The DRC has a historic chance to attract large-scale investment under the UNGA spotlight. However, without credible security guarantees and institutional reforms, investor enthusiasm risks being short-lived. ASA stands ready to deliver confidential intelligence and risk assessments for actors seeking to navigate this high-stakes environment.