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The Democratic Republic of Congo has characterized the European Union's persistent minerals agreement with Rwanda as demonstrating "obvious hypocrisy" while imposing significantly wider restrictions in response to the war in Ukraine.

Foreign Minister's Strong Criticism

Thérèse Kayikwamba Wagner, the African nation's international affairs chief, demanded the EU to impose much stronger measures against Rwanda, which has been charged with intensifying the unrest in Congo's eastern region.

"This shows clear inconsistency – I aim to be helpful here – that has us wondering and concerned about comprehending why the EU again struggles so much to take action," she declared.

Ceasefire Deal Context

The DRC and Rwanda agreed to a conflict resolution in June, facilitated by the United States and Qatar, aiming to conclude the decades-old dispute.

However, fatal assaults on non-combatants have endured and a target date to establish 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 insurgent faction and that the Rwandan military was in "actual command of M23 operations."

Rwanda has repeatedly rejected supporting M23 and asserts its forces act in self-defence.

Diplomatic Request

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

"This necessitates you to instruct the M23 troops backed by your country to halt this escalation, which has already resulted in numerous deaths," the president declared.

International Restrictions

The EU has placed sanctions on 32 individuals and two entities – a militant group and a Rwandan mineral treatment facility dealing in unauthorized sources of the metal – for their participation in intensifying the conflict.

Despite these determinations of international law breaches by the Rwandan army in the DRC, the European Commission has rejected calls to suspend a 2024 resource partnership with Kigali.

Mineral Issues

Wagner labeled the agreement with Rwanda as "completely untrustworthy in a situation where it has been verified that Rwanda has been siphoning off DRC minerals" obtained under severe situations of forced labour, involving children.

The United States and various countries have voiced apprehension about illegal trade in gold and tantalum in eastern Congo, mined via forced labour, then illegally transported to Rwanda for international trade to finance militant factions.

Humanitarian Crisis

The unrest in DRC's eastern territories remains one of the world's gravest humanitarian crises, with exceeding 7.8 million people relocated within country in eastern DRC and 28 million facing food insecurity, including 4 million at emergency levels, according to UN reports.

Diplomatic Efforts

As the DRC's top representative, Wagner approved the agreement with Rwanda at the US presidential residence in June, which also seeks to give the United States enhanced entry to Congolese natural resources.

She maintained that the US remains participating in the resolution efforts and denied claims that main concern was the DRC's significant natural resources.

European Partnership

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

She highlighted the Lobito corridor – rail, road and water transport links – linking the mining regions of the DRC and Zambia to Angola's Atlantic coast.

Wagner recognized that the EU and DRC had a solid basis in the Lobito project, but "significant aspects has been eclipsed by the situation in eastern DRC."