🔗 Share this article

The DRC has labeled the European Union's persistent minerals deal with Rwanda as exhibiting "clear contradiction" while implementing much broader penalties in response to the Ukrainian crisis.

Diplomatic Sharp Rebuke

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

"It represents clear inconsistency – I aim to be helpful here – that has us curious and interested about comprehending why the EU continues to hesitate so much to take action," she stated.

Ceasefire Deal Background

The DRC and Rwanda agreed to a ceasefire deal in June, brokered by the United States and Qatar, aiming to resolve the protracted dispute.

However, lethal incidents on civilians have endured and a deadline to achieve a final settlement was missed in August.

UN Report

Last year, a United Nations panel reported that up to 4,000 Rwandan troops were supporting the M23 insurgent faction and that the Rwandan military was in "actual command of M23 operations."

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

Leadership Call

The DRC president, Félix Tshisekedi, recently called upon his Rwandan counterpart, Paul Kagame, to cease backing militants in the DRC during a Brussels event attended by both leaders.

"This necessitates you to command the M23 troops assisted by your country to stop this intensification, which has already caused sufficient fatalities," the leader emphasized.

EU Sanctions

The EU has placed sanctions on 32 persons and two organizations – a rebel organization and a Rwandan gold refiner processing unauthorized sources of the metal – for their participation in prolonging the conflict.

Despite these findings of human rights abuses by the Rwandan army in the DRC, the European Commission has rejected calls to cancel a 2024 minerals deal with Kigali.

Mineral Issues

Wagner described the partnership with Rwanda as "completely untrustworthy in a context where it has been confirmed that Rwanda has been siphoning off Congolese resources" extracted under severe situations of forced labour, affecting children.

The United States and many others have raised concerns about illicit commerce in precious metals in Congo's eastern region, obtained via compulsory work, then illegally transported to Rwanda for shipment to benefit militant factions.

Humanitarian Crisis

The conflict in Congo's east remains one of the world's most severe human catastrophes, with over 7.8 million people relocated within country in the region and 28 million experiencing nutritional challenges, including 4 million at emergency levels, according to UN assessments.

Global Involvement

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

She asserted that the US remains engaged in the peace process and dismissed claims that main concern was the DRC's vast mineral wealth.

International Collaboration

The European Commission president, Ursula von der Leyen, inaugurated a gathering by stating that the EU wanted "partnerships based on shared objectives and honoring independence."

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

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 Congo's east."