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The Democratic Republic of Congo has characterized the European Union's ongoing minerals partnership with Rwanda as demonstrating "evident hypocrisy" while implementing significantly wider sanctions in response to the war in Ukraine.

Foreign Minister's Firm Condemnation

Thérèse Kayikwamba Wagner, the DRC's foreign minister, demanded the EU to implement much stronger restrictions against Rwanda, which has been accused of fueling the conflict in Congo's eastern region.

"This demonstrates evident hypocrisy – I want to be constructive here – that makes us questioning and inquisitive about comprehending why the EU continues to hesitate so much to implement measures," she stated.

Conflict Resolution Background

The DRC and Rwanda agreed to a ceasefire deal in June, mediated by the US and Qatar, designed to end the decades-old conflict.

However, deadly attacks on non-combatants have endured and a time limit to reach a comprehensive peace agreement was missed in August.

International Findings

Last year, a international assessment team reported that up to 4,000 Rwandan troops were supporting the M23 militant organization 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 urged his Rwandan counterpart, Paul Kagame, to end assistance to militants in the DRC during a international conference attended by both leaders.

"This necessitates you to command the M23 troops assisted by your country to end this intensification, which has already caused sufficient fatalities," the leader emphasized.

International Restrictions

The EU has placed sanctions on 32 persons and two entities – a armed faction and a Rwandan precious metals processor handling contraband materials of the metal – for their participation in fuelling the conflict.

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

Mineral Issues

Wagner characterized the memorandum of understanding with Rwanda as "completely untrustworthy in a context where it has been confirmed that Rwanda has been siphoning off DRC minerals" extracted under harsh circumstances of compulsory work, including children.

The United States and numerous nations have voiced apprehension about unauthorized transactions in precious metals in eastern Congo, mined via compulsory work, then trafficked to Rwanda for export to benefit militant factions.

Human Catastrophe

The unrest in eastern DRC remains one of the world's worst emergency situations, with exceeding 7.8 million people relocated within country in the region and 28 million experiencing food insecurity, including 4 million at emergency levels, according to UN data.

International Engagement

As the DRC's chief diplomat, Wagner ratified the agreement with Rwanda at the White House in June, which also seeks to give the United States enhanced entry to Congolese natural resources.

She asserted that the US remains engaged in the resolution efforts and denied claims that primary interest was the DRC's extensive resource deposits.

International Collaboration

The Brussels chief, Ursula von der Leyen, opened a summit by stating that the EU wanted "cooperation based on common interests and acknowledging autonomy."

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 firm groundwork in the Lobito project, but "much has been diminished by the crisis in Congo's east."