Overview
- The UN Security Council held a high-level debate on 22–23 July that focused on how rising demand for lithium, cobalt, nickel and rare earths is reshaping conflict dynamics and global competition.
- Secretary-General António Guterres set four priorities — justice, prevention and traceability, peaceful dispute settlement, and climate integration — to stop revenues from illicit mining from funding armed groups.
- WTO chief Ngozi Okonjo‑Iweala and several delegations urged more local processing and value addition so producing countries keep higher-paid jobs and a larger share of profits.
- States are using a mix of technical support and targeted measures, including UK sanctions and EU import restrictions on Sudanese gold, while some members warn stronger international rules must respect state sovereignty.
- Experts warn that if governance, transparency and environmental safeguards are not strengthened, illicit extraction will persist in places like eastern DRC and Sudan and continue to harm communities and fuel instability.