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The DRC has characterized the European Union's ongoing minerals agreement with Rwanda as exhibiting "clear double standards" while implementing much broader restrictions in response to the war in Ukraine.

Government Strong Criticism

Thérèse Kayikwamba Wagner, the DRC's foreign minister, urged the EU to implement significantly tougher measures against Rwanda, which has been accused of fueling the conflict in eastern DRC.

"It represents obvious double standards – I want to be constructive here – that has us curious and concerned about understanding why the EU repeatedly finds it difficult so much to take action," she emphasized.

Ceasefire Deal Context

The DRC and Rwanda signed a conflict resolution in June, facilitated by the United States and Qatar, aiming to conclude the decades-old conflict.

However, deadly attacks on civilians have endured and a time limit to establish a comprehensive peace agreement was not met in August.

UN Report

Last year, a international assessment team reported that up to 4,000 Rwandan troops were operating with the M23 insurgent faction and that the Rwandan military was in "effective direction of M23 operations."

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

Leadership Call

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

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

EU Sanctions

The EU has imposed restrictions against 32 persons and two entities – a rebel organization and a Rwandan gold refiner dealing in illegal supplies of the metal – for their involvement in fuelling the conflict.

Despite these findings of international law breaches by the Rwandan army in the DRC, the European Commission has rejected requests to suspend a 2024 mining agreement with Kigali.

Economic Implications

Wagner labeled the partnership with Rwanda as "lacking all legitimacy in a environment where it has been verified that Rwanda has been illegally extracting African wealth" obtained under harsh circumstances of coerced employment, affecting children.

The United States and various countries have expressed alarm about illegal trade in precious metals in DRC's east, mined via coerced employment, then smuggled to Rwanda for international trade to finance militant factions.

Regional Emergency

The conflict in Congo's east remains one of the world's worst human catastrophes, with exceeding 7.8 million people relocated within country in eastern DRC and 28 million facing nutritional challenges, including 4 million at critical stages, according to UN assessments.

International Engagement

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 expanded opportunity to DRC minerals.

She stated that the US remains involved in the peace process and denied claims that main concern was the DRC's vast mineral wealth.

International Collaboration

The EU leader, Ursula von der Leyen, commenced a gathering by emphasizing that the EU wanted "partnerships based on shared objectives and respect for sovereignty."

She highlighted the Lobito corridor – multi-modal transport links – linking the resource-rich areas of the DRC and Zambia to Angola's western shoreline.

Wagner acknowledged that the EU and DRC had a solid basis in the Lobito project, but "significant aspects has been diminished by the crisis in Congo's east."