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The Central African nation has characterized the European Union's persistent minerals partnership with Rwanda as showing "clear hypocrisy" while imposing significantly wider restrictions in response to the Ukraine conflict.

Foreign Minister's Firm Condemnation

Thérèse Kayikwamba Wagner, the DRC's international affairs chief, demanded the EU to implement far more severe measures against Rwanda, which has been charged with intensifying the conflict in Congo's eastern region.

"It represents clear inconsistency – I want to be helpful here – that makes us wondering and interested about understanding why the EU continues to hesitate so much to enact sanctions," she stated.

Ceasefire Deal Background

The DRC and Rwanda agreed to a peace agreement in June, brokered by the America and Qatar, aiming to resolve the decades-old hostilities.

However, deadly attacks on civilians have persisted and a time limit to reach a comprehensive peace agreement was missed in August.

UN Report

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 asserts its forces act in self-protection.

Presidential Appeal

The DRC president, Félix Tshisekedi, recently appealed to his Rwandan counterpart, Paul Kagame, to cease backing militants in the DRC during a international conference attended by both leaders.

"This necessitates you to order the M23 troops backed by your country to stop this escalation, which has already caused numerous fatalities," the leader emphasized.

European Measures

The EU has imposed restrictions against 32 people and two organizations – a armed faction and a Rwandan mineral treatment facility dealing in unauthorized sources of the metal – for their participation in prolonging the conflict.

Despite these determinations of international law breaches by the Rwandan army in the DRC, the Brussels administration has declined requests to terminate a 2024 resource partnership with Kigali.

Mineral Issues

Wagner characterized the memorandum of understanding with Rwanda as "lacking all legitimacy in a environment where it has been verified that Rwanda has been diverting African wealth" obtained under brutal conditions of compulsory work, involving children.

The United States and various countries have voiced apprehension about illicit commerce in precious metals in Congo's eastern region, mined via forced labour, then smuggled to Rwanda for export to support armed groups.

Humanitarian Crisis

The unrest in eastern DRC remains one of the world's worst emergency situations, with more than 7.8 million people forced from homes in the region and 28 million experiencing nutritional challenges, including 4 million at critical stages, according to UN assessments.

Global Involvement

As the DRC's top representative, Wagner ratified the accord with Rwanda at the American administration in June, which also aims to give the United States greater access to African wealth.

She stated that the US remains involved in the resolution efforts and dismissed claims that sole motivation was the DRC's vast mineral wealth.

International Collaboration

The Brussels chief, Ursula von der Leyen, inaugurated a gathering by emphasizing that the EU wanted "partnerships based on shared objectives and acknowledging autonomy."

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

Wagner admitted that the EU and DRC had a strong foundation in the Lobito project, but "much has been overshadowed by the conflict in Congo's east."