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The Democratic Republic of Congo has labeled the European Union's continued minerals deal with Rwanda as exhibiting "obvious double standards" while implementing significantly wider penalties in response to the Ukrainian crisis.

Government Sharp Rebuke

Thérèse Kayikwamba Wagner, the DRC's top diplomat, called for the EU to enact far more severe sanctions against Rwanda, which has been accused of fueling the violence in eastern DRC.

"This shows obvious inconsistency – I want to be constructive here – that has us questioning and inquisitive about comprehending why the EU repeatedly finds it difficult so much to implement measures," she emphasized.

Ceasefire Deal Context

The DRC and Rwanda agreed to a ceasefire deal in June, mediated by the America and Qatar, intending to conclude the decades-old dispute.

However, fatal assaults on civilians have persisted and a target date to achieve a comprehensive peace agreement was not met in August.

International Findings

Last year, a international assessment team stated that up to 4,000 Rwandan troops were supporting the M23 insurgent faction and that the Rwandan military was in "effective direction of M23 operations."

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

Leadership Call

The DRC president, Félix Tshisekedi, recently called upon his Rwandan counterpart, Paul Kagame, to end assistance to rebel forces in the DRC during a European gathering including both leaders.

"This requires you to order the M23 troops supported by your country to end this escalation, which has already led to sufficient fatalities," Tshisekedi stated.

International Restrictions

The EU has placed sanctions on 32 persons and two entities – a militant group and a Rwandan precious metals processor handling unauthorized sources of the metal – for their participation in intensifying the conflict.

Despite these determinations of rights violations by the Rwandan army in the DRC, the European Commission has declined calls to terminate a 2024 mining agreement with Kigali.

Mineral Issues

Wagner characterized the partnership with Rwanda as "lacking all legitimacy in a environment where it has been verified that Rwanda has been siphoning off African wealth" obtained under brutal conditions of compulsory work, affecting children.

The United States and many others have raised concerns about illicit commerce in gold and tantalum in DRC's east, obtained via forced labour, then smuggled to Rwanda for shipment to support rebel organizations.

Regional Emergency

The conflict in DRC's eastern territories remains one of the world's most severe humanitarian crises, with more than 7.8 million people forced from homes in affected areas and 28 million experiencing nutritional challenges, including 4 million at crisis conditions, according to UN data.

International Engagement

As the DRC's principal negotiator, Wagner signed the agreement with Rwanda at the US presidential residence in June, which also attempts to give the United States expanded opportunity to Congolese natural resources.

She stated that the US remains involved in the diplomatic negotiations and rejected claims that primary interest was the DRC's extensive resource deposits.

European Partnership

The EU leader, Ursula von der Leyen, inaugurated a conference by stating that the EU wanted "collaboration based on mutual benefits and acknowledging autonomy."

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

Wagner acknowledged that the EU and DRC had a solid basis in the Lobito project, but "a great deal has been diminished by the conflict in eastern DRC."