🔗 Share this article

The Democratic Republic of Congo has described the European Union's continued minerals deal with Rwanda as showing "evident contradiction" while imposing significantly wider restrictions in response to the war in Ukraine.

Government Strong Criticism

Thérèse Kayikwamba Wagner, the African nation's international affairs chief, called for the EU to impose far more severe sanctions against Rwanda, which has been accused of fueling the conflict in DRC's eastern territories.

"It represents obvious double standards – I strive to be helpful here – that leaves us wondering and inquisitive about comprehending why the EU repeatedly finds it difficult so much to implement measures," she declared.

Conflict Resolution Context

The DRC and Rwanda signed a peace agreement in June, brokered by the United States and Qatar, designed to resolve the decades-old conflict.

However, fatal assaults on non-combatants have endured and a deadline to establish a lasting resolution was missed in August.

International Findings

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

Rwanda has repeatedly rejected assisting M23 and claims its forces act in national security.

Diplomatic Request

The DRC president, Félix Tshisekedi, recently urged his Rwandan counterpart, Paul Kagame, to stop supporting armed groups in the DRC during a European gathering attended by both leaders.

"This necessitates you to command the M23 troops backed by your country to halt this intensification, which has already led to numerous deaths," the leader emphasized.

European Measures

The EU has enacted measures targeting 32 individuals and two organizations – a militant group and a Rwandan precious metals processor processing contraband materials of the metal – for their role in prolonging the conflict.

Despite these findings of human rights abuses by the Rwandan army in the DRC, the EU executive has rejected calls to cancel a 2024 mining agreement with Kigali.

Mineral Issues

Wagner labeled the memorandum of understanding with Rwanda as "completely untrustworthy in a context where it has been confirmed that Rwanda has been illegally extracting African wealth" extracted under severe situations of compulsory work, including children.

The United States and various countries have expressed alarm about illicit commerce in precious metals in Congo's eastern region, obtained via coerced employment, then smuggled to Rwanda for shipment to benefit rebel organizations.

Human Catastrophe

The violence in Congo's east remains one of the world's most severe emergency situations, with more than 7.8 million people internally displaced in the region and 28 million confronting food insecurity, including 4 million at emergency levels, according to UN reports.

Global Involvement

As the DRC's chief diplomat, Wagner ratified the agreement with Rwanda at the American administration in June, which also aims to give the United States greater access to Congolese natural resources.

She asserted that the US remains involved in the resolution efforts and rejected allegations that main concern was the DRC's extensive resource deposits.

European Partnership

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

She emphasized the Lobito corridor – rail, road and water transport links – linking the resource-rich areas 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 "a great deal has been eclipsed by the crisis in Congo's east."