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The DRC has described the European Union's persistent minerals deal with Rwanda as exhibiting "evident double standards" while enforcing far more extensive restrictions in response to the war in Ukraine.

Foreign Minister's Sharp Rebuke

Thérèse Kayikwamba Wagner, the African nation's top diplomat, urged the EU to impose significantly tougher measures against Rwanda, which has been accused of fueling the violence in eastern DRC.

"This demonstrates evident hypocrisy – I aim to be productive here – that leaves us wondering and concerned about understanding why the EU again struggles so much to take action," she stated.

Peace Agreement History

The DRC and Rwanda ratified a conflict resolution in June, brokered by the America and Qatar, intending to end the long-standing conflict.

However, deadly attacks on civilians have continued and a deadline to achieve a lasting resolution was missed in August.

UN Report

Last year, a group of UN experts reported that up to 4,000 Rwandan troops were supporting the M23 rebel group and that the Rwandan military was in "actual command of M23 operations."

Rwanda has repeatedly rejected assisting M23 and maintains its forces act in self-defence.

Diplomatic Request

The DRC president, Félix Tshisekedi, recently called upon his Rwandan counterpart, Paul Kagame, to end assistance to rebel forces in the DRC during a Brussels event attended by both leaders.

"This necessitates you to instruct the M23 troops assisted by your country to end this deterioration, which has already led to sufficient fatalities," Tshisekedi stated.

International Restrictions

The EU has placed sanctions on 32 people and two groups – a militant group and a Rwandan mineral treatment facility handling illegal supplies of the metal – for their role in fuelling the conflict.

Despite these conclusions of human rights abuses by the Rwandan army in the DRC, the European Commission has declined demands to terminate a 2024 minerals deal with Kigali.

Mineral Issues

Wagner described the partnership with Rwanda as "void of any credibility in a context where it has been established that Rwanda has been diverting African wealth" obtained under severe situations of forced labour, affecting children.

The United States and various countries have expressed alarm about illicit commerce in mineral resources in eastern Congo, mined via forced labour, then illegally transported to Rwanda for international trade to finance armed groups.

Humanitarian Crisis

The violence in eastern DRC remains one of the world's worst emergency situations, with exceeding 7.8 million people forced from homes in eastern DRC and 28 million confronting nutritional challenges, including 4 million at emergency levels, according to UN data.

Diplomatic Efforts

As the DRC's top representative, Wagner signed the accord with Rwanda at the American administration in June, which also seeks to give the United States greater access to African wealth.

She stated that the US remains participating in the resolution efforts and dismissed allegations that primary interest was the DRC's significant natural resources.

European Partnership

The Brussels chief, Ursula von der Leyen, inaugurated a summit by emphasizing that the EU wanted "cooperation based on shared objectives and honoring independence."

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 acknowledged that the EU and DRC had a firm groundwork in the Lobito project, but "significant aspects has been overshadowed by the crisis in the troubled region."