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The DRC has labeled the European Union's continued minerals deal with Rwanda as demonstrating "evident contradiction" while imposing significantly wider sanctions in response to the war in Ukraine.

Foreign Minister's Strong Criticism

Thérèse Kayikwamba Wagner, the Congo's foreign minister, demanded the EU to implement significantly tougher measures against Rwanda, which has been accused of fueling the unrest in eastern DRC.

"This demonstrates evident hypocrisy – I strive to be constructive here – that leaves us curious and interested about grasping why the EU again struggles so much to implement measures," she declared.

Peace Agreement History

The DRC and Rwanda ratified a peace agreement in June, brokered by the US and Qatar, aiming to resolve the protracted hostilities.

However, deadly attacks on ordinary citizens have endured and a deadline to achieve a final settlement was passed without success in August.

Expert Assessment

Last year, a group of UN experts 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 repeatedly rejected assisting M23 and maintains its forces act in self-defence.

Diplomatic Request

The DRC president, Félix Tshisekedi, recently called upon his Rwandan counterpart, Paul Kagame, to stop supporting rebel forces in the DRC during a Brussels event including both leaders.

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

European Measures

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

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

Resource Concerns

Wagner characterized the agreement with Rwanda as "completely untrustworthy in a environment where it has been confirmed that Rwanda has been illegally extracting DRC minerals" extracted under brutal conditions of forced labour, affecting children.

The United States and numerous nations have expressed alarm about unauthorized transactions in precious metals in DRC's east, extracted via compulsory work, then trafficked to Rwanda for international trade to benefit armed groups.

Regional Emergency

The unrest in DRC's eastern territories remains one of the world's gravest emergency situations, with more than 7.8 million people internally displaced in affected areas and 28 million experiencing nutritional challenges, including 4 million at critical stages, according to UN data.

International Engagement

As the DRC's chief diplomat, Wagner signed the agreement with Rwanda at the American administration in June, which also aims to give the United States enhanced entry to DRC minerals.

She stated that the US remains participating in the resolution efforts and dismissed claims that primary interest was the DRC's extensive resource deposits.

International Collaboration

The EU leader, Ursula von der Leyen, commenced a summit by stating that the EU wanted "cooperation based on common interests and honoring independence."

She emphasized the Lobito corridor – transportation infrastructure transport links – joining the mining regions of the DRC and Zambia to Angola's western shoreline.

Wagner admitted that the EU and DRC had a firm groundwork in the Lobito project, but "much has been eclipsed by the situation in Congo's east."