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The Central African nation has labeled the European Union's ongoing minerals deal with Rwanda as demonstrating "evident contradiction" while implementing far more extensive restrictions in response to the war in Ukraine.

Government Strong Criticism

Thérèse Kayikwamba Wagner, the DRC's top diplomat, urged the EU to enact far more severe restrictions against Rwanda, which has been alleged to exacerbate the violence in DRC's eastern territories.

"This shows clear hypocrisy – I aim to be helpful here – that has us wondering and interested about grasping why the EU continues to hesitate so much to enact sanctions," she stated.

Conflict Resolution Background

The DRC and Rwanda ratified a conflict resolution in June, mediated by the United States and Qatar, aiming to resolve the decades-old conflict.

However, deadly attacks on non-combatants have endured and a time limit to achieve a lasting resolution was not met in August.

International Findings

Last year, a group of UN experts reported that up to 4,000 Rwandan troops were operating with the M23 rebel group and that the Rwandan military was in "de facto control of M23 operations."

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

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 Brussels event including both leaders.

"This necessitates you to order the M23 troops backed by your country to halt this escalation, which has already resulted in sufficient casualties," the president declared.

EU Sanctions

The EU has imposed restrictions against 32 persons and two organizations – a rebel organization and a Rwandan gold refiner handling contraband materials of the metal – for their role in fuelling the conflict.

Despite these findings of rights violations by the Rwandan army in the DRC, the Brussels administration has rejected calls to terminate a 2024 resource partnership with Kigali.

Mineral Issues

Wagner described the agreement with Rwanda as "void of any credibility in a context where it has been confirmed that Rwanda has been illegally extracting African wealth" mined under severe situations of compulsory work, including children.

The United States and various countries have voiced apprehension about unauthorized transactions in mineral resources in DRC's east, mined via forced labour, then illegally transported to Rwanda for shipment to support armed groups.

Human Catastrophe

The conflict in DRC's eastern territories remains one of the world's worst humanitarian crises, with exceeding 7.8 million people relocated within country in eastern DRC and 28 million confronting food insecurity, including 4 million at critical stages, according to UN assessments.

Diplomatic Efforts

As the DRC's top representative, Wagner approved the accord with Rwanda at the US presidential residence in June, which also aims to give the United States enhanced entry to DRC minerals.

She asserted that the US remains engaged in the resolution efforts and rejected allegations that primary interest was the DRC's vast mineral wealth.

European Partnership

The EU leader, Ursula von der Leyen, commenced a summit by emphasizing that the EU wanted "collaboration based on common interests and acknowledging autonomy."

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

Wagner admitted that the EU and DRC had a strong foundation in the Lobito project, but "a great deal has been eclipsed by the situation in eastern DRC."