COP 17 on biodiversity: the Congolese indigenous peoples and the civil society align their positions

Kinshasa, September 8^th, 2026 (CPA).- The civil society actors and the representatives of the Pygmy indigenous peoples of the Democratic Republic of the Congo have gathered in the capital, Kinshasa, to establish a common position and align their key messages for successful participation in the upcoming COP 17, CPA has learnt on Tuesday from the organisers. “The aim of this workshop is to harmonise our positions and develop common messages to give DRC a strong voice and influence international decisions regarding community-managed conservation areas at the forthcoming COP 17,” has declared Joseph Itongwa, National Executive Director of the National Alliance for the Support and Promotion of Indigenous and Community Heritage Areas in DRC (ANAPAC). ‘This preparation will ensure strategic participation in the COP 17 negotiations on biodiversity, scheduled to take place in Yerevan, Armenia, from October 19^th to 30^th, 2026,’ he has added. To this end, the participants are basing their discussions on the assessment of the Kunming–Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework, which aims to conserve 30% of land and seas by 2030. In this regard, the organisation points out that this global target cannot be achieved without the formal recognition and safeguarding of traditional Indigenous territories alongside state-protected areas. The discussions also incorporate an analysis of the conclusions from the recent preparatory sessions in Nairobi, with a view to aligning Congolese demands with international trends. Although collective progress is evident, civil society notes that the legal recognition of local communities’ land rights has stalled, hence the importance of presenting a united front to influence future decisions.  At national level, the executive director of ANAPAC has explained that the participants in this work welcome the progress made in forestry reform in DRC, which now takes into account the free, prior and informed consent of indigenous peoples. However, the stakeholders have emphasised that the success of their mission to Armenia will depend on overcoming logistical and financial challenges, with the lack of funding remaining the major obstacle to ensuring effective representation of the country. Having begun on Tuesday, September 8^th in Kinshasa, this national strategic planning workshop will conclude this Thursday, September 10th, following three days of intensive works in the commissions.