New York, 13 April 2026 – During the general exchange of views of the 2026 substantive session of the Disarmament Commission, the Democratic Republic of the Congo reaffirmed its commitment to general and complete disarmament under strict and effective international control, in a global context marked by rising geopolitical tensions, growing strategic arms competition, and the erosion of trust among nuclear-weapon States.
In the statement delivered by Ambassador and Permanent Representative Zénon Mukongo Ngay, the DRC stressed the need to preserve and strengthen multilateralism as a fundamental principle for negotiations in the field of disarmament and non-proliferation. It also underscored the central role of the Disarmament Commission as a specialized deliberative body within the United Nations multilateral disarmament machinery.
The Congolese delegation reaffirmed its support for the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT), presented as the cornerstone of the global non-proliferation regime, while calling for the full and balanced implementation of its three pillars: nuclear disarmament, nuclear non-proliferation, and the peaceful use of nuclear energy. In the same spirit, the DRC welcomed the entry into force of the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons (TPNW) and encouraged States that have not yet done so to sign or ratify it.
The Democratic Republic of the Congo also highlighted the importance of the inalienable right of States to the peaceful use of nuclear energy, with the support of the International Atomic Energy Agency. It further drew attention to the implications of emerging technologies, particularly artificial intelligence, for international peace and security, calling for the establishment of strong regulatory mechanisms consistent with the Charter of the United Nations and applicable international law.
In conclusion, the DRC called on all Member States to demonstrate political will and transparency in addressing disarmament issues, in order to advance towards the shared objective of a world free of nuclear weapons.