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The Central African nation has described the European Union's continued minerals agreement with Rwanda as demonstrating "clear contradiction" while implementing significantly wider restrictions in response to the Ukraine conflict.

Diplomatic Strong Criticism

Thérèse Kayikwamba Wagner, the Congo's international affairs chief, demanded the EU to impose much stronger restrictions against Rwanda, which has been accused of fueling the conflict in eastern DRC.

"This shows evident double standards – I want to be helpful here – that has us questioning and interested about grasping why the EU continues to hesitate so much to enact sanctions," she stated.

Conflict Resolution Background

The DRC and Rwanda ratified a conflict resolution in June, mediated by the US and Qatar, designed to end the decades-old dispute.

However, deadly attacks on ordinary citizens have endured and a target date to reach a lasting resolution was not met in August.

UN Report

Last year, a international assessment team found that up to 4,000 Rwandan troops were fighting alongside the M23 insurgent faction and that the Rwandan military was in "de facto control of M23 operations."

Rwanda has continually refuted assisting M23 and asserts its forces act in self-protection.

Leadership Call

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

"This requires you to instruct the M23 troops backed by your country to halt this intensification, which has already led to sufficient casualties," Tshisekedi stated.

EU Sanctions

The EU has enacted measures targeting 32 persons and two organizations – a militant group and a Rwandan precious metals processor processing unauthorized sources of the metal – for their role in prolonging the conflict.

Despite these findings of international law breaches by the Rwandan army in the DRC, the EU executive has rejected demands to cancel a 2024 resource partnership with Kigali.

Resource Concerns

Wagner labeled the memorandum of understanding with Rwanda as "completely untrustworthy in a situation where it has been confirmed that Rwanda has been diverting DRC minerals" obtained under severe situations of coerced employment, including children.

The United States and numerous nations have voiced apprehension about unauthorized transactions in precious metals in Congo's eastern region, obtained via coerced employment, then illegally transported to Rwanda for international trade to benefit rebel organizations.

Regional Emergency

The conflict in Congo's east remains one of the world's worst emergency situations, with over 7.8 million people relocated within country in affected areas and 28 million facing hunger issues, including 4 million at critical stages, according to UN assessments.

Global Involvement

As the DRC's top representative, Wagner ratified the agreement with Rwanda at the US presidential residence in June, which also seeks to give the United States enhanced entry to Congolese natural resources.

She stated that the US remains participating in the diplomatic negotiations and dismissed claims that sole motivation was the DRC's extensive resource deposits.

EU Cooperation

The EU leader, Ursula von der Leyen, inaugurated a summit by declaring that the EU wanted "partnerships based on shared objectives 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 Atlantic coast.

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