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The DRC has described the European Union's continued minerals deal with Rwanda as demonstrating "obvious hypocrisy" while imposing significantly wider penalties in response to the war in Ukraine.

Government Firm Condemnation

Thérèse Kayikwamba Wagner, the DRC's international affairs chief, demanded the EU to implement far more severe measures against Rwanda, which has been charged with intensifying the conflict in DRC's eastern territories.

"It represents obvious hypocrisy – I strive to be productive here – that makes us questioning and interested about understanding why the EU again struggles so much to implement measures," she declared.

Peace Agreement History

The DRC and Rwanda ratified a conflict resolution in June, facilitated by the US and Qatar, intending to resolve the long-standing conflict.

However, deadly attacks on civilians have continued and a target date to reach a final settlement was not met in August.

International Findings

Last year, a group of UN experts reported 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 supporting M23 and claims its forces act in national security.

Presidential Appeal

The DRC president, Félix Tshisekedi, recently called upon his Rwandan counterpart, Paul Kagame, to end assistance to armed groups in the DRC during a international conference attended by both leaders.

"This requires you to order the M23 troops supported by your country to stop this deterioration, which has already led to numerous fatalities," Tshisekedi stated.

EU Sanctions

The EU has placed sanctions on 32 individuals and two entities – a rebel organization and a Rwandan gold refiner processing contraband materials of the metal – for their involvement in intensifying the conflict.

Despite these conclusions of international law breaches by the Rwandan army in the DRC, the EU executive has rejected calls to cancel a 2024 mining agreement with Kigali.

Resource Concerns

Wagner labeled the partnership with Rwanda as "completely untrustworthy in a situation where it has been verified that Rwanda has been illegally extracting African wealth" mined under harsh circumstances of forced labour, affecting children.

The United States and various countries have expressed alarm about illicit commerce in precious metals in DRC's east, mined via compulsory work, then smuggled to Rwanda for international trade to support armed groups.

Human Catastrophe

The conflict in DRC's eastern territories remains one of the world's most severe humanitarian crises, with exceeding 7.8 million people internally displaced in affected areas and 28 million experiencing nutritional challenges, including 4 million at critical stages, according to UN assessments.

Global Involvement

As the DRC's principal negotiator, Wagner signed the deal with Rwanda at the White House in June, which also seeks to give the United States expanded opportunity to Congolese natural resources.

She asserted that the US remains engaged in the peace process and denied allegations that primary interest was the DRC's vast mineral wealth.

EU Cooperation

The Brussels chief, Ursula von der Leyen, inaugurated a conference by declaring that the EU wanted "collaboration based on shared objectives and acknowledging autonomy."

She featured the Lobito corridor – multi-modal transport links – joining the mineral heartlands of the DRC and Zambia to Angola's ocean access.

Wagner recognized that the EU and DRC had a strong foundation in the Lobito project, but "much has been eclipsed by the situation in Congo's east."