Congo Basin Voice at COP31 as Türkiye Courts Congo Ahead of Antalya

Türkiye’s ambassador to the Republic of Congo has put the Congo Basin on the road to COP31, saying Ankara is working closely with Congolese institutions to give Congo and the vast Central African forest region a stronger voice at the United Nations climate conference in Antalya next month.

Ambassador Hilmi Ege Türemen made the remarks on 29 October in Brazzaville, at a reception marking the 103rd anniversary of the proclamation of the Republic of Türkiye, according to the Congolese Information Agency (ACI). The remarks were reported on 31 October by Brazzaville Insider and Congo Sentinel, both citing the agency’s account of the address.

What was announced in Brazzaville

According to the reports, the Turkish embassy is working with Congolese institutions to secure better participation by Congo at COP31 and to ensure that issues linked to protecting and valorising the Congo Basin are taken into account at the conference. The reports do not specify which Congolese bodies are involved or what form the cooperation takes.

Several diplomats posted in Congo attended the reception. The Congolese government was represented by the minister for urban sanitation, local development and road maintenance.

Türemen also set out an economic horizon for the relationship, saying trade between Türkiye and Congo could exceed 200 million dollars in 2026, with 500 million dollars as a short-term goal. That figure is a projection and an ambition, not a recorded result, and no date was given for the larger target. He pointed to growing Turkish investor interest in construction, energy, mining, sanitation and the maritime and logistics sectors, though no specific project or company was named in the remarks reported by the agency.

“Thanks to the wise and determined leadership of the two Heads of State, our economic and commercial cooperation is developing in a positive direction despite geopolitical challenges,” he said, according to ACI.

Why the Congo Basin matters at COP31

The Congo Basin rainforest is one of the world’s largest tropical forest regions, and its protection is closely tied to global climate goals: intact forests store carbon, regulate rainfall and support the livelihoods of millions of people across Central Africa. How its future is treated in climate finance, adaptation and forest-protection discussions is therefore a live question for the Antalya talks, not a side issue.

For Brazzaville, the cooperation announced by the embassy offers a channel to bring the concerns of the Congo Basin before a conference whose host country wishes to be judged on delivery rather than on declarations, as the reports put it.

Antalya’s implementation test

COP31, the 31st Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, will take place in Antalya, Türkiye, from 9 to 20 November 2026. Türkiye holds the presidency, with President-Designate Murat Kurum leading the presidency team, while Australia’s Climate Change and Energy Minister Chris Bowen serves as President of Negotiations under the Türkiye-Australia partnership arrangement.

Türemen said Türkiye wants the conference to focus on implementation, in particular turning commitments made at previous summits into concrete action and tangible results.

“Climate change remains one of the major challenges at the global level, and no country is immune from its effects,” he said. “It translates into heat waves, forest fires, droughts and floods that have a strong impact on sustainable development efforts.”

Whether the Congo Basin commitment announced in Brazzaville becomes a concrete outcome in Antalya will be judged at COP31 itself. Related coverage of the road to Antalya can be found in our earlier report on Lula’s attendance at the COP31 leaders’ summit in Antalya.

Key Facts

• COP31 takes place in Antalya, Türkiye, from 9 to 20 November 2026.
• Türkiye’s ambassador in Brazzaville, Hilmi Ege Türemen, said on 29 October that the embassy is working with Congolese institutions on Congo’s COP31 participation and on Congo Basin issues.
• The Congo Basin is one of the world’s largest tropical forest regions, central to carbon storage and rainfall regulation.
• Türkiye-Congo trade could exceed 200 million dollars in 2026, with 500 million dollars as a short-term goal — a projection, not a recorded total.
• Türkiye says it wants COP31 judged on implementation: turning past commitments into concrete action.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is COP31?

COP31 is the 31st Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, where governments negotiate and review global climate action. It takes place in Antalya, Türkiye, from 9 to 20 November 2026.

What did Türkiye’s ambassador announce in Brazzaville?

Ambassador Hilmi Ege Türemen said on 29 October that the Turkish embassy is working closely with Congolese institutions to secure better participation by Congo at COP31 and to ensure Congo Basin protection and valorisation issues are taken into account.

Why does the Congo Basin matter for the climate?

The Congo Basin rainforest is one of the world’s largest tropical forest regions. Intact forests store carbon and help regulate rainfall, so their protection is directly linked to global climate goals.

Is the 200 million dollar trade figure a confirmed result?

No. It was presented as an expectation for 2026, and the 500 million dollar figure as a short-term goal. Neither is a recorded trade total, and no date was given for the larger target.

Who leads the COP31 presidency and negotiations?

Türkiye holds the COP31 presidency, with President-Designate Murat Kurum, while Australia’s Chris Bowen serves as President of Negotiations under the Türkiye-Australia partnership.