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The DRC has characterized the European Union's continued minerals partnership with Rwanda as showing "clear hypocrisy" while implementing significantly wider sanctions in response to the Ukraine conflict.

Foreign Minister's Strong Criticism

Thérèse Kayikwamba Wagner, the DRC's international affairs chief, demanded the EU to impose far more severe sanctions against Rwanda, which has been alleged to exacerbate the conflict in Congo's eastern region.

"This demonstrates evident hypocrisy – I strive to be helpful here – that leaves us wondering and inquisitive about comprehending why the EU again struggles so much to implement measures," she emphasized.

Peace Agreement Context

The DRC and Rwanda agreed to a peace agreement in June, mediated by the US and Qatar, designed to resolve the decades-old conflict.

However, lethal incidents on civilians have persisted and a target date to reach a lasting resolution was not met in August.

International Findings

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

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

Diplomatic Request

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

"This necessitates you to command the M23 troops backed by your country to halt this intensification, which has already resulted in enough fatalities," the president declared.

EU Sanctions

The EU has enacted measures targeting 32 people and two entities – a rebel organization and a Rwandan gold refiner processing contraband materials of the metal – for their involvement in fuelling the conflict.

Despite these findings of human rights abuses by the Rwandan army in the DRC, the EU executive has rejected requests to cancel a 2024 mining agreement with Kigali.

Mineral Issues

Wagner characterized the agreement with Rwanda as "completely untrustworthy in a environment where it has been established that Rwanda has been diverting DRC minerals" extracted under harsh circumstances of forced labour, including children.

The United States and various countries have raised concerns about illicit commerce in precious metals in eastern Congo, obtained via compulsory work, then trafficked to Rwanda for export to finance militant factions.

Humanitarian Crisis

The unrest in Congo's east remains one of the world's most severe emergency situations, with more than 7.8 million people internally displaced in affected areas and 28 million experiencing hunger issues, including 4 million at emergency levels, according to UN assessments.

Global Involvement

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

She stated that the US remains participating in the peace process and rejected claims that main concern was the DRC's extensive resource deposits.

European Partnership

The EU leader, Ursula von der Leyen, commenced a gathering by emphasizing that the EU wanted "cooperation based on shared objectives and honoring independence."

She featured the Lobito corridor – transportation infrastructure transport links – joining the mining regions of the DRC and Zambia to Angola's western shoreline.

Wagner acknowledged that the EU and DRC had a firm groundwork in the Lobito project, but "a great deal has been diminished by the crisis in eastern DRC."