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The DRC has described the European Union's persistent minerals agreement with Rwanda as demonstrating "evident double standards" while enforcing much broader restrictions in response to the Ukrainian crisis.

Foreign Minister's Firm Condemnation

Thérèse Kayikwamba Wagner, the DRC's top diplomat, called for the EU to implement significantly tougher measures against Rwanda, which has been accused of fueling the violence in eastern DRC.

"This shows evident hypocrisy – I want to be helpful here – that leaves us wondering and inquisitive about understanding why the EU again struggles so much to implement measures," she declared.

Ceasefire Deal Context

The DRC and Rwanda signed a conflict resolution in June, mediated by the America and Qatar, aiming to resolve the decades-old hostilities.

However, deadly attacks on ordinary citizens have persisted and a deadline to reach a final settlement was missed in August.

UN Report

Last year, a group of UN experts 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 consistently denied supporting M23 and asserts its forces act in national security.

Leadership Call

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

"This demands you to command the M23 troops assisted by your country to stop this escalation, which has already led to enough fatalities," the leader emphasized.

European Measures

The EU has placed sanctions on 32 individuals and two groups – a armed faction and a Rwandan mineral treatment facility processing illegal supplies of the metal – for their role in prolonging the conflict.

Despite these determinations of rights violations by the Rwandan army in the DRC, the European Commission has rejected demands to suspend a 2024 mining agreement with Kigali.

Mineral Issues

Wagner described the partnership with Rwanda as "void of any credibility in a context where it has been verified that Rwanda has been siphoning off African wealth" mined under brutal conditions of compulsory work, including children.

The United States and various countries have raised concerns about illegal trade in mineral resources in eastern Congo, obtained via coerced employment, then smuggled to Rwanda for shipment to finance rebel organizations.

Humanitarian Crisis

The unrest in eastern DRC remains one of the world's gravest emergency situations, with over 7.8 million people relocated within country in the region and 28 million confronting nutritional challenges, including 4 million at emergency levels, according to UN assessments.

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 expanded opportunity to African wealth.

She stated that the US remains involved in the peace process and rejected claims that sole motivation was the DRC's vast mineral wealth.

European Partnership

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

She highlighted the Lobito corridor – transportation infrastructure transport links – linking the resource-rich areas 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 "significant aspects has been overshadowed by the crisis in eastern DRC."