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The DRC has labeled the European Union's ongoing minerals deal with Rwanda as showing "obvious contradiction" while imposing much broader sanctions in response to the war in Ukraine.

Government Firm Condemnation

Thérèse Kayikwamba Wagner, the Congo's foreign minister, demanded the EU to impose much stronger measures against Rwanda, which has been charged with intensifying the conflict in Congo's eastern region.

"This demonstrates clear double standards – I aim to be productive here – that leaves us curious and concerned about comprehending why the EU again struggles so much to implement measures," she emphasized.

Conflict Resolution History

The DRC and Rwanda signed a conflict resolution in June, brokered by the America and Qatar, designed to resolve the protracted hostilities.

However, fatal assaults on non-combatants have persisted and a time limit to reach a final settlement was missed in August.

Expert Assessment

Last year, a international assessment team found that up to 4,000 Rwandan troops were supporting the M23 rebel group and that the Rwandan military was in "actual command of M23 operations."

Rwanda has continually refuted assisting M23 and asserts its forces act in national security.

Leadership Call

The DRC president, Félix Tshisekedi, recently urged his Rwandan counterpart, Paul Kagame, to cease backing rebel forces in the DRC during a international conference featuring both leaders.

"This demands you to instruct the M23 troops assisted by your country to halt this escalation, which has already resulted in sufficient casualties," the president declared.

EU Sanctions

The EU has imposed restrictions against 32 individuals and two entities – a rebel organization and a Rwandan mineral treatment facility dealing in contraband materials 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 declined requests to suspend a 2024 mining agreement with Kigali.

Resource Concerns

Wagner labeled the agreement with Rwanda as "void of any credibility in a environment where it has been verified that Rwanda has been diverting DRC minerals" extracted under harsh circumstances of coerced employment, affecting children.

The United States and various countries have voiced apprehension about illicit commerce in gold and tantalum in eastern Congo, extracted via coerced employment, then smuggled to Rwanda for international trade to finance militant factions.

Regional Emergency

The conflict in DRC's eastern territories remains one of the world's gravest emergency situations, with exceeding 7.8 million people internally displaced in affected areas and 28 million experiencing food insecurity, including 4 million at critical stages, according to UN reports.

Diplomatic Efforts

As the DRC's principal negotiator, Wagner approved the agreement with Rwanda at the American administration in June, which also seeks to give the United States expanded opportunity to DRC minerals.

She maintained that the US remains participating in the diplomatic negotiations and dismissed claims that primary interest was the DRC's significant natural resources.

EU Cooperation

The European Commission president, Ursula von der Leyen, inaugurated a conference by declaring that the EU wanted "collaboration based on mutual benefits and acknowledging autonomy."

She emphasized the Lobito corridor – multi-modal transport links – connecting the mining regions of the DRC and Zambia to Angola's western shoreline.

Wagner acknowledged that the EU and DRC had a strong foundation in the Lobito project, but "much has been overshadowed by the situation in eastern DRC."