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The DRC has characterized the European Union's persistent minerals deal with Rwanda as showing "clear hypocrisy" while imposing far more extensive sanctions in response to the Ukraine conflict.

Diplomatic Strong Criticism

Thérèse Kayikwamba Wagner, the Congo's international affairs chief, urged the EU to impose significantly tougher sanctions against Rwanda, which has been alleged to exacerbate the conflict in eastern DRC.

"This demonstrates obvious hypocrisy – I strive to be helpful here – that has us questioning and concerned about understanding why the EU continues to hesitate so much to implement measures," she stated.

Ceasefire Deal Background

The DRC and Rwanda agreed to a peace agreement in June, brokered by the America and Qatar, aiming to resolve the decades-old dispute.

However, lethal incidents on non-combatants have endured and a time limit to reach a lasting resolution was missed in August.

International Findings

Last year, a international assessment team found 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 supporting M23 and maintains its forces act in self-protection.

Presidential Appeal

The DRC president, Félix Tshisekedi, recently appealed to his Rwandan counterpart, Paul Kagame, to end assistance to armed groups in the DRC during a European gathering attended by both leaders.

"This requires you to instruct the M23 troops assisted by your country to stop this intensification, which has already caused enough fatalities," the leader emphasized.

European Measures

The EU has imposed restrictions against 32 individuals and two groups – a armed faction and a Rwandan precious metals processor processing contraband materials of the metal – for their involvement in prolonging the conflict.

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

Resource Concerns

Wagner characterized the memorandum of understanding with Rwanda as "completely untrustworthy in a context where it has been established that Rwanda has been diverting DRC minerals" mined under harsh circumstances of compulsory work, involving children.

The United States and numerous nations have expressed alarm about unauthorized transactions in mineral resources in eastern Congo, mined via forced labour, then smuggled to Rwanda for international trade to support armed groups.

Humanitarian Crisis

The conflict in DRC's eastern territories remains one of the world's worst emergency situations, with over 7.8 million people forced from homes in eastern DRC and 28 million experiencing nutritional challenges, including 4 million at critical stages, according to UN data.

Diplomatic Efforts

As the DRC's chief diplomat, Wagner approved the accord with Rwanda at the White House in June, which also attempts to give the United States expanded opportunity to African wealth.

She stated that the US remains participating in the peace process and rejected allegations that main concern was the DRC's vast mineral wealth.

EU Cooperation

The European Commission president, Ursula von der Leyen, commenced a gathering by declaring that the EU wanted "partnerships based on mutual benefits and honoring independence."

She highlighted the Lobito corridor – rail, road and water transport links – joining the mining regions of the DRC and Zambia to Angola's western shoreline.

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