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The DRC has labeled the European Union's continued minerals agreement with Rwanda as exhibiting "evident contradiction" while implementing much broader restrictions in response to the Ukraine conflict.

Government Sharp Rebuke

Thérèse Kayikwamba Wagner, the African nation's international affairs chief, demanded the EU to implement significantly tougher restrictions against Rwanda, which has been accused of fueling the violence in DRC's eastern territories.

"This demonstrates obvious hypocrisy – I strive to be productive here – that has us curious and interested about understanding why the EU continues to hesitate so much to enact sanctions," she emphasized.

Conflict Resolution History

The DRC and Rwanda signed a ceasefire deal in June, mediated by the United States and Qatar, aiming to conclude the long-standing conflict.

However, lethal incidents on non-combatants have persisted and a time limit to achieve a comprehensive peace agreement was passed without success in August.

UN Report

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

Rwanda has repeatedly rejected backing M23 and maintains its forces act in national security.

Leadership Call

The DRC president, Félix Tshisekedi, recently appealed to his Rwandan counterpart, Paul Kagame, to stop supporting militants in the DRC during a Brussels event attended by both leaders.

"This necessitates you to instruct the M23 troops backed by your country to stop this deterioration, which has already resulted in sufficient fatalities," Tshisekedi stated.

European Measures

The EU has enacted measures targeting 32 persons and two organizations – a armed faction and a Rwandan gold refiner dealing in contraband materials of the metal – for their role in intensifying the conflict.

Despite these conclusions of international law breaches by the Rwandan army in the DRC, the Brussels administration has rejected calls to suspend a 2024 mining agreement with Kigali.

Mineral Issues

Wagner described the partnership with Rwanda as "lacking all legitimacy in a context where it has been established that Rwanda has been diverting DRC minerals" extracted under harsh circumstances of compulsory work, affecting children.

The United States and various countries have raised concerns about illegal trade in mineral resources in Congo's eastern region, obtained via coerced employment, then illegally transported to Rwanda for export to finance armed groups.

Human Catastrophe

The violence in Congo's east remains one of the world's most severe human catastrophes, with over 7.8 million people forced from homes in affected areas and 28 million facing food insecurity, including 4 million at emergency levels, according to UN data.

Global Involvement

As the DRC's chief diplomat, Wagner ratified the deal with Rwanda at the US presidential residence in June, which also aims to give the United States greater access to African wealth.

She stated that the US remains involved in the peace process and denied suggestions that primary interest was the DRC's vast mineral wealth.

International Collaboration

The European Commission president, Ursula von der Leyen, commenced a gathering by emphasizing that the EU wanted "partnerships based on common interests and honoring independence."

She highlighted the Lobito corridor – multi-modal transport links – linking the mining regions of the DRC and Zambia to Angola's ocean access.

Wagner recognized that the EU and DRC had a solid basis in the Lobito project, but "a great deal has been diminished by the crisis in Congo's east."