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The DRC has labeled the European Union's persistent minerals partnership with Rwanda as exhibiting "evident hypocrisy" while enforcing significantly wider restrictions in response to the Ukrainian crisis.

Government Strong Criticism

Thérèse Kayikwamba Wagner, the Congo's international affairs chief, urged the EU to impose far more severe restrictions against Rwanda, which has been charged with intensifying the violence in DRC's eastern territories.

"This demonstrates clear double standards – I want to be productive here – that has us curious and interested about understanding why the EU repeatedly finds it difficult so much to implement measures," she declared.

Conflict Resolution Background

The DRC and Rwanda ratified a ceasefire deal in June, mediated by the US and Qatar, designed to end the decades-old hostilities.

However, fatal assaults on ordinary citizens have persisted and a time limit to achieve a comprehensive peace agreement was passed without success in August.

UN Report

Last year, a United Nations panel stated that up to 4,000 Rwandan troops were fighting alongside the M23 militant organization and that the Rwandan military was in "de facto control of M23 operations."

Rwanda has continually refuted backing M23 and asserts its forces act in self-protection.

Leadership Call

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

"This necessitates you to order the M23 troops supported by your country to halt this escalation, which has already resulted in numerous fatalities," the leader emphasized.

EU Sanctions

The EU has enacted measures targeting 32 individuals and two entities – a militant group and a Rwandan precious metals processor dealing in unauthorized sources of the metal – for their role in intensifying the conflict.

Despite these findings of human rights abuses by the Rwandan army in the DRC, the Brussels administration has declined demands to terminate a 2024 resource partnership with Kigali.

Resource Concerns

Wagner labeled the agreement with Rwanda as "completely untrustworthy in a environment where it has been confirmed that Rwanda has been siphoning off DRC minerals" extracted under severe situations of forced labour, including children.

The United States and various countries have voiced apprehension about unauthorized transactions in precious metals in DRC's east, extracted via forced labour, then illegally transported to Rwanda for international trade to support rebel organizations.

Human Catastrophe

The violence in DRC's eastern territories remains one of the world's gravest emergency situations, with more than 7.8 million people forced from homes in eastern DRC and 28 million facing hunger issues, including 4 million at critical stages, according to UN data.

International Engagement

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

She maintained that the US remains engaged in the peace process and dismissed suggestions that main concern was the DRC's vast mineral wealth.

International Collaboration

The European Commission president, Ursula von der Leyen, commenced a summit by stating that the EU wanted "cooperation based on common interests and acknowledging autonomy."

She featured the Lobito corridor – rail, road and water transport links – linking the mineral heartlands of the DRC and Zambia to Angola's ocean access.

Wagner acknowledged that the EU and DRC had a strong foundation in the Lobito project, but "much has been overshadowed by the situation in eastern DRC."