Tshisekedi links forest protection and ending the ‘war economy’ at COP31
By the AFREEQUE newsroom, based on Mediacongo
At COP31 in Antalya, Turkey, President Félix Tshisekedi called on the United Nations to link forest protection with the fight against the ‘war economy’, saying there can be no stable climate without lasting peace. He linked armed conflicts in eastern DR Congo, fuelled by the pursuit of natural resources, to environmental degradation and supply chain traceability.
Félix Tshisekedi, president of the Democratic Republic of Congo, called for the fight against armed conflicts to be linked to forest protection, arguing that there can be no stable climate without lasting peace. He was speaking on Wednesday 11 November 2026 in Antalya, Turkey, on the first day of COP31, according to the Congolese presidency.
The head of state said conflicts linked to the pursuit of natural resources in eastern DRC had cost countless lives and displaced millions of people, while also degrading natural environments. He called for stronger supply chain traceability, an end to trafficking and the development of sustainable livelihoods for local populations, according to the Congolese presidency.
Félix Tshisekedi also said that the DRC had chosen to seek peace through dialogue with the support of its partners. He is due to take part in the Summit of Heads of State and Government being held on Wednesday and Thursday under the theme ‘Towards a sustainable, resilient and equitable future’, according to the Congolese presidency.
This position comes after Félix Tshisekedi presented the Kivu-Kinshasa Green Corridor at COP31 on 11 November.
Update of 12 November 2026: At COP31 in Antalya, Turkey, President Félix Tshisekedi called for a fair, predictable and sustainable remuneration mechanism for ecosystem services provided by tropical forests, particularly those in the Congo Basin. Read: At COP31, Tshisekedi calls for remuneration for tropical forests.
