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The Democratic Republic of Congo has described the European Union's ongoing minerals deal with Rwanda as showing "evident double standards" while imposing far more extensive restrictions in response to the Ukrainian crisis.

Foreign Minister's Sharp Rebuke

Thérèse Kayikwamba Wagner, the Congo's foreign minister, urged the EU to enact far more severe sanctions against Rwanda, which has been alleged to exacerbate the unrest in Congo's eastern region.

"It represents evident hypocrisy – I want to be constructive here – that has us questioning and interested about comprehending why the EU continues to hesitate so much to implement measures," she emphasized.

Ceasefire Deal Context

The DRC and Rwanda ratified a conflict resolution in June, facilitated by the United States and Qatar, intending to resolve the long-standing conflict.

However, fatal assaults on ordinary citizens have persisted and a deadline to achieve a final settlement was passed without success in August.

UN Report

Last year, a group of UN experts stated that up to 4,000 Rwandan troops were fighting alongside the M23 militant organization and that the Rwandan military was in "de facto control of M23 operations."

Rwanda has continually refuted backing M23 and maintains its forces act in self-protection.

Leadership Call

The DRC president, Félix Tshisekedi, recently urged his Rwandan counterpart, Paul Kagame, to stop supporting militants in the DRC during a international conference attended by both leaders.

"This demands you to instruct the M23 troops assisted by your country to end this intensification, which has already resulted in numerous casualties," Tshisekedi stated.

International Restrictions

The EU has enacted measures targeting 32 people and two entities – a rebel organization and a Rwandan mineral treatment facility handling contraband materials of the metal – for their role in prolonging the conflict.

Despite these determinations of human rights abuses by the Rwandan army in the DRC, the Brussels administration has resisted demands to suspend a 2024 mining agreement with Kigali.

Resource Concerns

Wagner characterized the partnership with Rwanda as "completely untrustworthy in a environment where it has been confirmed that Rwanda has been siphoning off DRC minerals" obtained under severe situations of coerced employment, including children.

The United States and many others have voiced apprehension about illicit commerce in mineral resources in Congo's eastern region, mined via compulsory work, then smuggled to Rwanda for international trade to support rebel organizations.

Regional Emergency

The conflict in DRC's eastern territories remains one of the world's gravest humanitarian crises, with over 7.8 million people forced from homes in the region and 28 million experiencing food insecurity, including 4 million at critical stages, according to UN reports.

Diplomatic Efforts

As the DRC's top representative, Wagner signed the agreement with Rwanda at the US presidential residence in June, which also seeks to give the United States greater access to African wealth.

She asserted that the US remains participating in the resolution efforts and rejected allegations that primary interest was the DRC's vast mineral wealth.

EU Cooperation

The Brussels chief, Ursula von der Leyen, commenced a conference by stating that the EU wanted "cooperation based on mutual benefits and acknowledging autonomy."

She featured the Lobito corridor – multi-modal transport links – joining the mineral heartlands of the DRC and Zambia to Angola's ocean access.

Wagner recognized that the EU and DRC had a strong foundation in the Lobito project, but "much has been eclipsed by the conflict in Congo's east."