Kinshasa, July 23rd, 2026 (CPA).- The reappropriation of the Democratic Republic of the Congo’s strategic and logistical sovereignty in climate matters has been recommended this Thursday at the University of Kinshasa, during the public defence of a thesis.
“DRC must reappropriation its strategic and logistical sovereignty in climate matters, notably through funding from the public purse, the implementation of climate policies and laws, and the support of negotiators in order to minimise external intervention as much as possible,” has declared Mr Claude Boyoo Itaka, author of the thesis. “The thesis conducts a prospective analysis to identify DRC’s diplomatic behaviour regarding climate change. The aim has been to carry out an assessment that has enabled us to highlight the weaknesses, challenges, as well as the factors of insecurity and strategic breakdowns linked to the conduct of diplomatic action,” he has added. Mr Boyoo has also developed three forward-looking scenarios for the future of DRC’s climate diplomacy up to 2050.
The first, he has continued, described as optimistic, predicts that, thanks to structural reforms undertaken at national level, the country could establish itself as one of the world’s leading players in the fight against climate change. « In contrast, the pessimistic scenario envisages a gradual withdrawal by States from their climate commitments, with consequences that could undermine international cooperation in this area,” he has said.
Following discussions with the members of the examination board and their deliberations, PhD candidate Claude Boyoo Itaka has been awarded a doctorate in International Relations with the highest distinction for his 365-page thesis, entitled: ‘Climate diplomacy of the Democratic Republic of the Congo: a forward-looking perspective on public policy and geopolitical challenges in the context of carbon neutrality’. CPA/