DRC Condemns EU's Rwanda Minerals Agreement as ‘Evident Contradiction’

The Democratic Republic of Congo has labeled the European Union's continued minerals deal with Rwanda as exhibiting "obvious double standards" while enforcing much broader sanctions in response to the Ukraine conflict.

Diplomatic Firm Condemnation

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

"This shows clear double standards – I strive to be productive here – that leaves us questioning and concerned about grasping why the EU again struggles so much to implement measures," she stated.

Conflict Resolution Background

The DRC and Rwanda ratified a peace agreement in June, mediated by the America and Qatar, designed to conclude the long-standing hostilities.

However, lethal incidents on ordinary citizens have endured and a target date to reach a final settlement was not met in August.

UN Report

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 "actual command of M23 operations."

Rwanda has repeatedly rejected assisting M23 and claims its forces act in national security.

Presidential Appeal

The DRC president, Félix Tshisekedi, recently urged his Rwandan counterpart, Paul Kagame, to cease backing armed groups in the DRC during a Brussels event attended by both leaders.

"This necessitates you to order the M23 troops backed by your country to end this escalation, which has already led to numerous casualties," the leader emphasized.

European Measures

The EU has enacted measures targeting 32 persons and two groups – a rebel organization and a Rwandan mineral treatment facility processing unauthorized sources of the metal – for their role in fuelling the conflict.

Despite these findings of human rights abuses by the Rwandan army in the DRC, the EU executive has declined calls to cancel a 2024 minerals deal with Kigali.

Resource Concerns

Wagner labeled the agreement with Rwanda as "lacking all legitimacy in a context where it has been verified that Rwanda has been siphoning off Congolese resources" obtained under harsh circumstances of coerced employment, affecting children.

The United States and many others have raised concerns about unauthorized transactions in gold and tantalum in DRC's east, mined via compulsory work, then smuggled to Rwanda for shipment to support armed groups.

Humanitarian Crisis

The unrest in Congo's east remains one of the world's worst human catastrophes, with exceeding 7.8 million people forced from homes in eastern DRC and 28 million confronting hunger issues, including 4 million at emergency levels, according to UN data.

Global Involvement

As the DRC's chief diplomat, Wagner ratified the deal with Rwanda at the US presidential residence in June, which also attempts to give the United States expanded opportunity to African wealth.

She stated that the US remains involved in the diplomatic negotiations and dismissed claims that sole motivation was the DRC's vast mineral wealth.

European Partnership

The EU leader, Ursula von der Leyen, opened a gathering by emphasizing that the EU wanted "collaboration based on mutual benefits and acknowledging autonomy."

She emphasized the Lobito corridor – transportation infrastructure transport links – linking the mineral heartlands of the DRC and Zambia to Angola's ocean access.

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