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The DRC has labeled the European Union's ongoing minerals partnership with Rwanda as demonstrating "evident double standards" while enforcing significantly wider penalties in response to the Ukraine conflict.

Foreign Minister's Strong Criticism

Thérèse Kayikwamba Wagner, the DRC's top diplomat, demanded the EU to enact much stronger sanctions against Rwanda, which has been accused of fueling the violence in Congo's eastern region.

"It represents evident hypocrisy – I want to be constructive here – that makes us curious and inquisitive about comprehending why the EU repeatedly finds it difficult so much to take action," she stated.

Peace Agreement History

The DRC and Rwanda ratified a ceasefire deal in June, facilitated by the US and Qatar, aiming to end the long-standing dispute.

However, fatal assaults on ordinary citizens have continued and a deadline to establish a lasting resolution was passed without success in August.

Expert Assessment

Last year, a United Nations panel found that up to 4,000 Rwandan troops were fighting alongside the M23 rebel group and that the Rwandan military was in "actual command of M23 operations."

Rwanda has continually refuted backing M23 and maintains its forces act in self-defence.

Leadership Call

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

"This necessitates you to instruct the M23 troops assisted by your country to end this deterioration, which has already led to enough fatalities," the president declared.

International Restrictions

The EU has placed sanctions on 32 people and two organizations – a rebel organization and a Rwandan precious metals processor handling contraband materials of the metal – for their involvement in intensifying the conflict.

Despite these determinations of rights violations by the Rwandan army in the DRC, the EU executive has resisted calls to cancel a 2024 minerals deal with Kigali.

Resource Concerns

Wagner characterized the agreement with Rwanda as "void of any credibility in a situation where it has been confirmed that Rwanda has been diverting African wealth" extracted under severe situations of coerced employment, including children.

The United States and many others have raised concerns about illegal trade in mineral resources in DRC's east, extracted via forced labour, then smuggled to Rwanda for shipment to support armed groups.

Human Catastrophe

The violence in DRC's eastern territories remains one of the world's worst human catastrophes, with over 7.8 million people internally displaced in affected areas and 28 million experiencing nutritional challenges, including 4 million at crisis conditions, according to UN assessments.

International Engagement

As the DRC's principal negotiator, Wagner approved the accord with Rwanda at the American administration in June, which also seeks to give the United States enhanced entry to African wealth.

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

European Partnership

The EU leader, Ursula von der Leyen, commenced a summit by stating that the EU wanted "collaboration based on shared objectives and honoring independence."

She highlighted the Lobito corridor – rail, road and water transport links – connecting the mining regions of the DRC and Zambia to Angola's ocean access.

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