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The Democratic Republic of Congo has characterized the European Union's continued minerals deal with Rwanda as exhibiting "obvious contradiction" while enforcing far more extensive restrictions in response to the war in Ukraine.

Government Strong Criticism

Thérèse Kayikwamba Wagner, the African nation's international affairs chief, urged the EU to impose much stronger restrictions against Rwanda, which has been charged with intensifying the conflict in DRC's eastern territories.

"It represents evident double standards – I aim to be productive here – that leaves us curious and interested about comprehending why the EU again struggles so much to enact sanctions," she stated.

Conflict Resolution History

The DRC and Rwanda ratified a ceasefire deal in June, facilitated by the United States and Qatar, intending to end the protracted conflict.

However, lethal incidents on non-combatants have persisted and a target date to establish a comprehensive peace agreement was not met in August.

International Findings

Last year, a international assessment team found that up to 4,000 Rwandan troops were supporting the M23 insurgent faction and that the Rwandan military was in "de facto control of M23 operations."

Rwanda has continually refuted supporting M23 and asserts its forces act in national security.

Diplomatic Request

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

"This necessitates you to command the M23 troops assisted by your country to end this intensification, which has already led to enough casualties," the president declared.

International Restrictions

The EU has placed sanctions on 32 persons and two entities – a rebel organization and a Rwandan precious metals processor dealing in illegal supplies of the metal – for their role in fuelling the conflict.

Despite these conclusions of rights violations by the Rwandan army in the DRC, the Brussels administration has resisted requests to cancel a 2024 resource partnership with Kigali.

Resource Concerns

Wagner described the agreement with Rwanda as "lacking all legitimacy in a situation where it has been verified that Rwanda has been diverting DRC minerals" obtained under harsh circumstances of compulsory work, involving children.

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

Human Catastrophe

The unrest in DRC's eastern territories remains one of the world's worst humanitarian crises, with over 7.8 million people internally displaced in the region and 28 million confronting nutritional challenges, including 4 million at emergency levels, according to UN assessments.

Diplomatic Efforts

As the DRC's top representative, Wagner signed the deal with Rwanda at the American administration in June, which also attempts to give the United States expanded opportunity to African wealth.

She maintained that the US remains participating in the diplomatic negotiations and denied suggestions that sole motivation was the DRC's extensive resource deposits.

EU Cooperation

The Brussels chief, Ursula von der Leyen, opened a gathering by declaring that the EU wanted "cooperation based on mutual benefits and acknowledging autonomy."

She emphasized the Lobito corridor – multi-modal transport links – joining the resource-rich areas of the DRC and Zambia to Angola's Atlantic coast.

Wagner admitted that the EU and DRC had a strong foundation in the Lobito project, but "much has been overshadowed by the crisis in the troubled region."