Strategic Minerals and National Security: ACSS and CHESD Symposium Highlights Pathways to Peace, Development, and Stronger Alumni Collaboration

September 9, 2026

Approximately 80 government officials, security practitioners, academics, and alumni of the Africa Center for Strategic Studies (ACSS) and the Collège des Hautes Études de Stratégie et de Défense (CHESD) recently gathered in Kinshasa to explore one of Central Africa’s most consequential security challenges: how the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC)’s vast strategic mineral wealth can be transformed from a source of conflict into a driver of peace, security, and sustainable development.

Held on March 13, 2026, the symposium followed a three-day regional workshop jointly organized by ACSS and CHESD on Strategic Minerals and National Security in the Congo Basin. The regional workshop brought together policymakers, researchers, and practitioners from Cameroon, Central African Republic, DRC, Gabon, and the Republic of Congo to examine the governance of strategic and critical minerals and develop practical recommendations for strengthening mineral resource management throughout the Congo Basin and the Great Lakes region. Building on those discussions, the March 13 symposium focused on the DRC. It provided a forum for government officials, security practitioners, academics, and alumni to examine how the country’s strategic mineral wealth can contribute to peace, security, and sustainable development.

… strategic minerals can become a foundation for lasting peace, security, and prosperity only if they are managed transparently, equitably, and in ways that generate meaningful benefits for the people and communities where they are found.

Opening the symposium, participants reviewed the regional workshop’s key findings and addressed a central question: How can the exploitation of strategic minerals contribute to regional stability rather than fuel insecurity? Discussions emphasized that the global race for critical minerals has intensified geopolitical competition, making effective governance more urgent than ever. Participants noted that weak institutions, inadequate oversight, and illicit mineral exploitation continue to undermine security – particularly in eastern DRC – underscoring the need for stronger linkages between national security strategies and national minerals strategies, stronger governance frameworks to implement the 2018 mining code and related rules and regulations, improved geological mapping of mineral deposits, more reliable data systems to prevent the illicit trafficking of minerals, and policies that prioritize the safety, rights, and well-being of local communities in mineral-rich areas of the country.

Participants particularly stressed that responsible mineral governance must deliver tangible benefits for citizens. The region’s abundant natural resources, they argued, should support investments in transportation networks, energy infrastructure, healthcare, education, and local industries. Developing domestic value chains, expanding employment opportunities, and strengthening technical education and workforce development were identified as critical to promoting sustainable economic growth and long-term industrialization.

Recognizing that artisanal and small-scale mining remains a vital source of income for millions of people, participants called for a gradual transition toward a more formalized mining sector that improves transparency, traceability, environmental stewardship, and respect for human rights while protecting livelihoods and expanding economic inclusion.

The symposium concluded with a shared commitment to advancing responsible resource governance and strengthening regional cooperation. Participants agreed that strategic minerals can become a foundation for lasting peace, security, and prosperity only if they are managed transparently, equitably, and in ways that generate meaningful benefits for the people and communities where they are found.

ACSS and CHESD Alumni Establish Joint Alumni Chapter

Following the symposium, ACSS and CHESD alumni met to discuss ways to sustain collaboration beyond the workshop and strengthen their professional network. The meeting culminated in a significant milestone: participants unanimously agreed to establish a joint ACSS–CHESD Alumni Chapter to promote continued engagement, facilitate knowledge sharing, and advance collaboration on defense, security, governance, and strategic policy issues.

Several alumni volunteered to serve on the Chapter’s Executive Committee, which will lead the chapter’s establishment, develop its governance framework, and coordinate future activities and professional development initiatives. The creation of the joint chapter reflects the alumni’s shared commitment to maintaining the relationships forged through ACSS and CHESD programs and leveraging their collective expertise to advance peace, security, and sustainable development in the DRC and across Central Africa.