🔗 Share this article

The Central African nation has labeled the European Union's continued minerals deal with Rwanda as demonstrating "evident double standards" while enforcing far more extensive sanctions in response to the Ukraine conflict.

Foreign Minister's Firm Condemnation

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 unrest in Congo's eastern region.

"This demonstrates evident hypocrisy – I want to be helpful here – that leaves us curious and concerned about understanding why the EU again struggles so much to take action," she declared.

Conflict Resolution History

The DRC and Rwanda ratified a conflict resolution in June, mediated by the US and Qatar, intending to end the decades-old conflict.

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

Expert Assessment

Last year, a United Nations panel stated that up to 4,000 Rwandan troops were supporting the M23 insurgent faction and that the Rwandan military was in "actual command of M23 operations."

Rwanda has consistently denied supporting M23 and claims its forces act in self-defence.

Presidential Appeal

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

"This requires you to command the M23 troops assisted by your country to end this intensification, which has already led to enough fatalities," Tshisekedi stated.

European Measures

The EU has enacted measures targeting 32 people and two entities – a armed faction and a Rwandan gold refiner dealing in contraband materials of the metal – for their participation in prolonging the conflict.

Despite these findings of rights violations by the Rwandan army in the DRC, the Brussels administration has declined demands to suspend a 2024 minerals deal with Kigali.

Economic Implications

Wagner characterized the partnership with Rwanda as "void of any credibility in a context where it has been confirmed that Rwanda has been illegally extracting DRC minerals" obtained under brutal conditions of forced labour, including children.

The United States and numerous nations have voiced apprehension about unauthorized transactions in mineral resources in DRC's east, extracted via forced labour, then trafficked to Rwanda for shipment to finance rebel organizations.

Human Catastrophe

The violence in DRC's eastern territories remains one of the world's gravest humanitarian crises, with more than 7.8 million people relocated within country in affected areas and 28 million experiencing hunger issues, including 4 million at crisis conditions, according to UN assessments.

Diplomatic Efforts

As the DRC's principal negotiator, Wagner approved the agreement with Rwanda at the White House in June, which also aims to give the United States enhanced entry to African wealth.

She asserted that the US remains engaged in the resolution efforts and denied suggestions that main concern was the DRC's significant natural resources.

European Partnership

The EU leader, Ursula von der Leyen, opened a summit by stating that the EU wanted "partnerships based on common interests and respect for sovereignty."

She emphasized the Lobito corridor – rail, road and water transport links – joining the resource-rich areas of the DRC and Zambia to Angola's ocean access.

Wagner acknowledged that the EU and DRC had a firm groundwork in the Lobito project, but "a great deal has been overshadowed by the crisis in Congo's east."