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The Central African nation has described the European Union's ongoing minerals agreement with Rwanda as exhibiting "obvious double standards" while implementing much broader penalties in response to the war in Ukraine.

Diplomatic Firm Condemnation

Thérèse Kayikwamba Wagner, the DRC's international affairs chief, urged the EU to implement significantly tougher measures against Rwanda, which has been alleged to exacerbate the violence in eastern DRC.

"It represents evident inconsistency – I strive to be productive here – that leaves us wondering and concerned about comprehending why the EU continues to hesitate so much to implement measures," she emphasized.

Peace Agreement History

The DRC and Rwanda signed a peace agreement in June, facilitated by the America and Qatar, aiming to end the protracted hostilities.

However, deadly attacks on ordinary citizens have persisted and a target date to establish a final settlement was not met in August.

International Findings

Last year, a United Nations panel found that up to 4,000 Rwandan troops were fighting alongside the M23 militant organization and that the Rwandan military was in "actual command of M23 operations."

Rwanda has consistently denied 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 end assistance to militants in the DRC during a European gathering including both leaders.

"This necessitates you to order the M23 troops assisted by your country to stop this intensification, which has already led to enough casualties," Tshisekedi stated.

EU Sanctions

The EU has imposed restrictions against 32 individuals and two entities – a rebel organization and a Rwandan gold refiner processing unauthorized sources of the metal – for their participation in fuelling the conflict.

Despite these conclusions of international law breaches by the Rwandan army in the DRC, the European Commission has rejected demands to suspend a 2024 resource partnership with Kigali.

Resource Concerns

Wagner characterized the partnership with Rwanda as "void of any credibility in a environment where it has been established that Rwanda has been siphoning off African wealth" extracted under severe situations of coerced employment, affecting children.

The United States and many others have voiced apprehension about unauthorized transactions in gold and tantalum in Congo's eastern region, extracted via forced labour, then trafficked to Rwanda for shipment to benefit rebel organizations.

Humanitarian Crisis

The violence in DRC's eastern territories remains one of the world's most severe emergency situations, with more than 7.8 million people internally displaced in eastern DRC and 28 million confronting food insecurity, including 4 million at crisis conditions, according to UN reports.

Diplomatic Efforts

As the DRC's chief diplomat, Wagner ratified the accord with Rwanda at the American administration in June, which also attempts to give the United States enhanced entry to DRC minerals.

She maintained that the US remains engaged in the peace process and denied allegations that primary interest was the DRC's extensive resource deposits.

European Partnership

The Brussels chief, Ursula von der Leyen, opened a gathering by emphasizing that the EU wanted "partnerships based on common interests and honoring independence."

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

Wagner acknowledged that the EU and DRC had a strong foundation in the Lobito project, but "significant aspects has been eclipsed by the conflict in Congo's east."