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The Democratic Republic of Congo has characterized the European Union's persistent minerals partnership with Rwanda as demonstrating "obvious contradiction" while imposing far more extensive sanctions in response to the Ukrainian crisis.

Diplomatic Strong Criticism

Thérèse Kayikwamba Wagner, the Congo's foreign minister, called for the EU to enact far more severe restrictions against Rwanda, which has been charged with intensifying the conflict in Congo's eastern region.

"It represents evident inconsistency – I want to be productive here – that leaves us wondering and concerned about understanding why the EU continues to hesitate so much to implement measures," she emphasized.

Peace Agreement Background

The DRC and Rwanda signed a ceasefire deal in June, facilitated by the United States and Qatar, intending to resolve the protracted conflict.

However, lethal incidents on non-combatants have endured and a deadline to reach a comprehensive peace agreement was not met in August.

Expert Assessment

Last year, a group of UN experts stated that up to 4,000 Rwandan troops were operating with the M23 insurgent faction and that the Rwandan military was in "effective direction of M23 operations."

Rwanda has consistently denied assisting M23 and claims its forces act in self-protection.

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 demands you to order the M23 troops backed by your country to halt this intensification, which has already caused numerous deaths," the president declared.

International Restrictions

The EU has enacted measures targeting 32 persons and two groups – a armed faction and a Rwandan mineral treatment facility handling unauthorized sources of the metal – for their role in fuelling the conflict.

Despite these conclusions of human rights abuses by the Rwandan army in the DRC, the Brussels administration has rejected calls to terminate a 2024 minerals deal with Kigali.

Mineral Issues

Wagner described the memorandum of understanding with Rwanda as "lacking all legitimacy in a environment where it has been confirmed that Rwanda has been diverting DRC minerals" obtained under harsh circumstances of coerced employment, including children.

The United States and various countries have raised concerns about illegal trade in precious metals in eastern Congo, extracted via compulsory work, then smuggled to Rwanda for international trade to finance armed groups.

Human Catastrophe

The unrest in DRC's eastern territories remains one of the world's most severe human catastrophes, with exceeding 7.8 million people relocated within country in the region and 28 million facing nutritional challenges, including 4 million at crisis conditions, according to UN assessments.

Global Involvement

As the DRC's chief diplomat, Wagner ratified the agreement with Rwanda at the White House in June, which also attempts to give the United States greater access to African wealth.

She stated that the US remains engaged in the peace process and dismissed claims that primary interest was the DRC's extensive resource deposits.

International Collaboration

The European Commission president, Ursula von der Leyen, inaugurated a summit by declaring that the EU wanted "cooperation based on mutual benefits and respect for sovereignty."

She emphasized the Lobito corridor – multi-modal transport links – connecting the mining regions 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 "significant aspects has been overshadowed by the crisis in the troubled region."