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The DRC has described the European Union's ongoing minerals agreement with Rwanda as demonstrating "clear double standards" while enforcing much broader penalties in response to the war in Ukraine.

Government Sharp Rebuke

Thérèse Kayikwamba Wagner, the African nation's foreign minister, called for the EU to enact far more severe sanctions against Rwanda, which has been accused of fueling the unrest in Congo's eastern region.

"It represents clear inconsistency – I strive to be helpful here – that makes us curious and inquisitive about understanding why the EU again struggles so much to take action," she emphasized.

Ceasefire Deal Context

The DRC and Rwanda ratified a peace agreement in June, facilitated by the United States and Qatar, aiming to resolve the long-standing hostilities.

However, deadly attacks on non-combatants have continued and a time limit to establish a comprehensive peace agreement was not met in August.

Expert Assessment

Last year, a group of UN experts stated that up to 4,000 Rwandan troops were supporting the M23 rebel group and that the Rwandan military was in "de facto control of M23 operations."

Rwanda has consistently denied assisting M23 and maintains its forces act in national security.

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 Brussels event including both leaders.

"This demands you to order the M23 troops assisted by your country to end this escalation, which has already led to numerous deaths," the leader emphasized.

European Measures

The EU has enacted measures targeting 32 individuals and two groups – 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 determinations of rights violations by the Rwandan army in the DRC, the European Commission has resisted requests to terminate a 2024 resource partnership with Kigali.

Resource Concerns

Wagner described the agreement with Rwanda as "completely untrustworthy in a context where it has been confirmed that Rwanda has been illegally extracting DRC minerals" obtained under harsh circumstances of forced labour, affecting children.

The United States and many others have expressed alarm about unauthorized transactions in precious metals in eastern Congo, mined via compulsory work, then illegally transported to Rwanda for international trade to finance rebel organizations.

Regional Emergency

The unrest in DRC's eastern territories remains one of the world's worst humanitarian crises, with over 7.8 million people relocated within country in eastern DRC and 28 million confronting hunger issues, including 4 million at critical stages, according to UN reports.

Global Involvement

As the DRC's principal negotiator, Wagner approved the deal with Rwanda at the White House in June, which also seeks to give the United States greater access to DRC minerals.

She maintained that the US remains participating in the diplomatic negotiations and denied claims that primary interest was the DRC's vast mineral wealth.

International Collaboration

The Brussels chief, Ursula von der Leyen, opened a gathering by declaring that the EU wanted "partnerships based on shared objectives and respect for sovereignty."

She highlighted the Lobito corridor – transportation infrastructure transport links – connecting the mineral heartlands of the DRC and Zambia to Angola's Atlantic coast.

Wagner recognized that the EU and DRC had a firm groundwork in the Lobito project, but "much has been overshadowed by the situation in eastern DRC."