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United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres addressed the Security Council on the critical role of natural resources in either fueling conflicts or supporting stability, according to a report by the Emirates News Agency. Guterres called for concerted action to integrate resource governance into conflict prevention and resolution strategies worldwide. A United Nations assessment found that mismanagement of resources such as oil, minerals and timber has contributed to instability in multiple regions over recent decades. The Secretary-General stressed the need for transparent and equitable management frameworks to prevent exploitation by armed groups.
The Emirates News Agency reported that Guterres highlighted how natural resources could instead become instruments for sustainable development and peace consolidation when properly regulated. He pointed to the importance of international cooperation in monitoring resource flows during post-conflict transitions. Council members were encouraged to strengthen mandates for peacekeeping operations to include oversight of resource sectors. Data from the World Bank indicates that countries rich in natural resources often face what economists term the resource curse, where wealth paradoxically correlates with higher conflict risks.
Guterres referenced ongoing conflicts where control over valuable resources has prolonged violence, the Emirates News Agency stated. He advocated for legal reforms and capacity building in affected nations to ensure revenues benefit local populations. Previous Security Council resolutions have addressed illegal resource exploitation in places like the Democratic Republic of Congo, according to United Nations records. The Secretary-General’s remarks aligned with a broader UN Environment Programme review that links resource competition to at least 40 percent of internal conflicts since the 1990s.
International partners have increasingly focused on certification schemes for conflict-free minerals as a tool to disrupt financing for armed groups, a UN panel of experts determined in past assessments. Guterres urged the council to build on these mechanisms with stronger enforcement and cross-border collaboration. Such steps could help redirect resource wealth toward reconstruction and social services in war-torn areas. The address came amid rising global attention to supply chain transparency in extractive industries.
The Security Council has previously debated the intersection of climate, resources and security, according to United Nations documentation. Guterres called for updated approaches that treat sustainable resource management as a core pillar of peace efforts. Member states were reminded of their responsibilities under international law to prevent illicit trade that undermines stability. Additional research from the International Peace Institute shows that resource-related disputes require integrated diplomatic and economic responses for lasting resolutions.
Efforts to reform governance in resource-rich fragile states have yielded mixed results, a World Bank governance review concluded in recent years. Guterres encouraged the council to support technical assistance programs aimed at improving oversight and anti-corruption measures. These initiatives could reduce vulnerabilities that allow resources to prolong conflicts rather than foster development. The Secretary-General’s intervention underscores a continuing focus on preventive diplomacy within the United Nations system.
