Kinshasa, November 12th, 2026 (CPA).-The President of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), Félix Tshisekedi, on Wednesday advocated for the direct channelling of climate funding to indigenous peoples, as guardians of tropical forests, during a roundtable discussion on forests held in Antalya, according to the Congolese Presidency.“Forest and climate financing must directly benefit indigenous peoples and local communities, with particular attention given to women and young people. Respect for their land rights and their participation in decision-making are essential conditions for success,” President Tshisekedi stressed during the roundtable organized on the occasion of the 31st Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP31). The Congolese Head of State highlighted the responsibility shouldered by nations that host vast forest areas.
For the DRC, preserving this natural heritage, whose benefits extend beyond national borders, must be accompanied by financial compensation commensurate with the services rendered to the planet.“At the heart of the Congo Basin, my country is home to forests whose ecosystem services benefit all of humanity. Conversely, the destruction of these ecosystems would entail considerable environmental, economic and human costs for the entire planet,” President Tshisekedi declared.
According to the Congolese Presidency, the DRC’s call was accompanied by a demand for social justice, with the Head of State urging the development of financial mechanisms that directly benefit populations living in and around forest areas.
He paid particular attention to indigenous peoples and local communities, whose participation in the management and protection of these resources must also translate into better access to climate financing.
Establishing a financial mechanism to strengthen existing arrangements
Regarding the Tropical Forests Forever Facility (TFFF), the Head of State supported the establishment of a financial mechanism capable of strengthening existing arrangements and providing forest-rich countries with long-term financing prospects. He emphasized the need to guarantee these countries effective representation in the fund’s governance.
The Congolese Head of State also addressed environmental challenges associated with the expansion of African cities, which must, in particular, become more resilient and energy-efficient. “Our cities are among the fastest-growing in the world; they must become more resilient, more energy-efficient and turn their waste into a resource. This is the ambition of ‘Kinshasa Kia Mona’, the project to expand our capital city over 43,300 hectares in Maluku, designed from the outset around urban planning, environmental protection and multimodal transport,” he said. For President Félix Tshisekedi, the DRC has chosen to reconcile forest conservation, the fight against poverty and sustainable economic development. According to him, the government’s ambition is to make conservation a driver of development, green job creation and shared prosperity, while strengthening the country’s contribution to the fight against climate change.