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The DRC has labeled the European Union's persistent minerals partnership with Rwanda as exhibiting "obvious contradiction" while enforcing much broader restrictions in response to the Ukraine conflict.

Government Firm Condemnation

Thérèse Kayikwamba Wagner, the DRC's top diplomat, demanded the EU to impose far more severe sanctions against Rwanda, which has been accused of fueling the conflict in Congo's eastern region.

"This demonstrates obvious double standards – I aim to be helpful here – that has us questioning and concerned about grasping why the EU continues to hesitate so much to enact sanctions," she declared.

Ceasefire Deal History

The DRC and Rwanda signed a peace agreement in June, facilitated by the US and Qatar, aiming to conclude the long-standing hostilities.

However, deadly attacks on non-combatants have continued and a deadline to achieve a comprehensive peace agreement was missed in August.

UN Report

Last year, a international assessment team found that up to 4,000 Rwandan troops were operating with the M23 insurgent faction and that the Rwandan military was in "actual command of M23 operations."

Rwanda has repeatedly rejected supporting M23 and claims its forces act in self-defence.

Leadership Call

The DRC president, Félix Tshisekedi, recently called upon his Rwandan counterpart, Paul Kagame, to cease backing rebel forces in the DRC during a European gathering featuring both leaders.

"This necessitates you to instruct the M23 troops backed by your country to halt this escalation, which has already resulted in numerous deaths," Tshisekedi stated.

EU Sanctions

The EU has imposed restrictions against 32 individuals and two entities – a armed faction and a Rwandan gold refiner processing contraband materials of the metal – for their involvement in intensifying the conflict.

Despite these findings of international law breaches by the Rwandan army in the DRC, the EU executive has declined requests to terminate a 2024 minerals deal with Kigali.

Mineral Issues

Wagner characterized the memorandum of understanding with Rwanda as "lacking all legitimacy in a context where it has been verified that Rwanda has been illegally extracting DRC minerals" mined under brutal conditions of compulsory work, including children.

The United States and many others have raised concerns about illegal trade in gold and tantalum in eastern Congo, obtained via forced labour, then illegally transported to Rwanda for international trade to benefit rebel organizations.

Human Catastrophe

The conflict in Congo's east remains one of the world's most severe emergency situations, with exceeding 7.8 million people relocated within country in affected areas and 28 million experiencing hunger issues, including 4 million at crisis conditions, according to UN reports.

Diplomatic Efforts

As the DRC's chief diplomat, Wagner ratified the agreement with Rwanda at the American administration in June, which also attempts to give the United States expanded opportunity to DRC minerals.

She asserted that the US remains participating in the diplomatic negotiations and dismissed claims that main concern was the DRC's extensive resource deposits.

International Collaboration

The European Commission president, Ursula von der Leyen, commenced a summit by emphasizing that the EU wanted "cooperation based on mutual benefits and respect for sovereignty."

She highlighted the Lobito corridor – rail, road and water transport links – joining the mineral heartlands of the DRC and Zambia to Angola's western shoreline.

Wagner recognized that the EU and DRC had a strong foundation in the Lobito project, but "significant aspects has been diminished by the situation in eastern DRC."