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The Democratic Republic of Congo has characterized the European Union's continued minerals deal with Rwanda as showing "obvious contradiction" while enforcing significantly wider sanctions in response to the war in Ukraine.

Diplomatic Sharp Rebuke

Thérèse Kayikwamba Wagner, the DRC's foreign minister, called for the EU to impose far more severe restrictions against Rwanda, which has been accused of fueling the conflict in eastern DRC.

"This shows evident inconsistency – I want to be helpful here – that has us wondering and concerned about understanding why the EU again struggles so much to take action," she emphasized.

Peace Agreement Context

The DRC and Rwanda ratified a ceasefire deal in June, mediated by the America and Qatar, aiming to resolve the protracted conflict.

However, deadly attacks on civilians have endured and a time limit to establish a comprehensive peace agreement was passed without success in August.

UN Report

Last year, a group of UN experts reported that up to 4,000 Rwandan troops were supporting the M23 militant organization and that the Rwandan military was in "actual command of M23 operations."

Rwanda has repeatedly rejected backing M23 and maintains its forces act in self-defence.

Diplomatic Request

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

"This necessitates you to command the M23 troops supported by your country to end this deterioration, which has already resulted in sufficient casualties," the leader emphasized.

EU Sanctions

The EU has imposed restrictions against 32 people and two entities – a rebel organization and a Rwandan precious metals processor dealing in contraband materials of the metal – for their participation in intensifying the conflict.

Despite these findings of human rights abuses by the Rwandan army in the DRC, the Brussels administration has declined calls to suspend a 2024 minerals deal with Kigali.

Resource Concerns

Wagner characterized the memorandum of understanding with Rwanda as "completely untrustworthy in a environment where it has been verified that Rwanda has been diverting Congolese resources" obtained under severe situations of coerced employment, affecting children.

The United States and many others have raised concerns about illicit commerce in mineral resources in DRC's east, mined via compulsory work, then illegally transported to Rwanda for international trade to finance rebel organizations.

Human Catastrophe

The conflict in eastern DRC remains one of the world's worst emergency situations, with more than 7.8 million people forced from homes in eastern DRC and 28 million facing nutritional challenges, including 4 million at critical stages, according to UN data.

Global Involvement

As the DRC's top representative, Wagner signed the deal with Rwanda at the White House in June, which also seeks to give the United States enhanced entry to DRC minerals.

She maintained that the US remains participating in the resolution efforts and rejected suggestions that primary interest was the DRC's significant natural resources.

International Collaboration

The Brussels chief, Ursula von der Leyen, opened a summit by stating that the EU wanted "collaboration based on shared objectives and honoring independence."

She featured the Lobito corridor – transportation infrastructure transport links – joining the resource-rich areas of the DRC and Zambia to Angola's Atlantic coast.

Wagner admitted that the EU and DRC had a solid basis in the Lobito project, but "a great deal has been overshadowed by the crisis in eastern DRC."