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The Central African nation has characterized the European Union's continued minerals deal with Rwanda as exhibiting "obvious hypocrisy" while enforcing significantly wider sanctions in response to the Ukraine conflict.

Foreign Minister's Firm Condemnation

Thérèse Kayikwamba Wagner, the Congo's international affairs chief, called for the EU to enact far more severe sanctions against Rwanda, which has been charged with intensifying the unrest in eastern DRC.

"This demonstrates evident double standards – I aim to be productive here – that makes us wondering and interested about understanding why the EU continues to hesitate so much to implement measures," she stated.

Peace Agreement Context

The DRC and Rwanda signed a ceasefire deal in June, brokered by the United States and Qatar, designed to conclude the protracted dispute.

However, lethal incidents on ordinary citizens have endured and a deadline to establish a comprehensive peace agreement was not met in August.

Expert Assessment

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

Rwanda has consistently denied backing M23 and asserts its forces act in national security.

Presidential Appeal

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

"This necessitates you to instruct the M23 troops assisted by your country to end this intensification, which has already caused sufficient casualties," Tshisekedi stated.

European Measures

The EU has imposed restrictions against 32 persons and two organizations – a rebel organization and a Rwandan precious metals processor handling contraband materials of the metal – for their participation in intensifying the conflict.

Despite these determinations of rights violations by the Rwandan army in the DRC, the Brussels administration has resisted calls to cancel a 2024 resource partnership with Kigali.

Resource Concerns

Wagner labeled the agreement with Rwanda as "void of any credibility in a environment where it has been verified that Rwanda has been diverting African wealth" mined under severe situations of compulsory work, involving children.

The United States and many others have raised concerns about illicit commerce in mineral resources in eastern Congo, extracted via forced labour, then illegally transported to Rwanda for shipment to finance rebel organizations.

Humanitarian Crisis

The violence 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 food insecurity, including 4 million at emergency levels, according to UN assessments.

Diplomatic Efforts

As the DRC's principal negotiator, Wagner signed the agreement with Rwanda at the US presidential residence in June, which also seeks to give the United States enhanced entry to African wealth.

She asserted that the US remains participating in the resolution efforts and rejected claims that main concern was the DRC's vast mineral wealth.

European Partnership

The EU leader, Ursula von der Leyen, commenced a gathering by stating that the EU wanted "collaboration based on common interests and acknowledging autonomy."

She featured the Lobito corridor – rail, road and water transport links – linking the mineral heartlands 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 eclipsed by the crisis in eastern DRC."