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The DRC has characterized the European Union's ongoing minerals deal with Rwanda as showing "obvious contradiction" while implementing far more extensive sanctions in response to the war in Ukraine.

Foreign Minister's Firm Condemnation

Thérèse Kayikwamba Wagner, the African nation's top diplomat, called for the EU to implement much stronger sanctions against Rwanda, which has been accused of fueling the unrest in eastern DRC.

"It represents evident inconsistency – I strive to be productive here – that leaves us curious and interested about grasping why the EU again struggles so much to take action," she stated.

Peace Agreement Background

The DRC and Rwanda ratified a peace agreement in June, brokered by the US and Qatar, aiming to end the long-standing conflict.

However, lethal incidents on non-combatants have persisted and a target date to reach a lasting resolution was missed in August.

Expert Assessment

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 "actual command of M23 operations."

Rwanda has consistently denied backing M23 and claims its forces act in self-protection.

Diplomatic Request

The DRC president, Félix Tshisekedi, recently called upon his Rwandan counterpart, Paul Kagame, to end assistance to rebel forces in the DRC during a Brussels event featuring both leaders.

"This demands you to command the M23 troops supported by your country to stop this deterioration, which has already led to numerous fatalities," the leader emphasized.

International Restrictions

The EU has placed sanctions on 32 people and two organizations – a armed faction and a Rwandan mineral treatment facility processing illegal supplies of the metal – for their participation in prolonging the conflict.

Despite these determinations of rights violations by the Rwandan army in the DRC, the EU executive has declined demands to cancel a 2024 resource partnership with Kigali.

Economic Implications

Wagner described the agreement with Rwanda as "completely untrustworthy in a context where it has been verified that Rwanda has been illegally extracting Congolese resources" obtained under harsh circumstances of coerced employment, affecting children.

The United States and numerous nations have expressed alarm about unauthorized transactions in gold and tantalum in Congo's eastern region, mined via forced labour, then illegally transported to Rwanda for international trade to support armed groups.

Humanitarian Crisis

The violence in Congo's east remains one of the world's worst humanitarian crises, with more than 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 data.

Global Involvement

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

She maintained that the US remains participating in the resolution efforts and rejected claims that main concern was the DRC's extensive resource deposits.

International Collaboration

The European Commission president, Ursula von der Leyen, inaugurated a conference by emphasizing that the EU wanted "cooperation based on mutual benefits and acknowledging autonomy."

She emphasized the Lobito corridor – rail, road and water transport links – joining the mineral heartlands of the DRC and Zambia to Angola's ocean access.

Wagner admitted that the EU and DRC had a strong foundation in the Lobito project, but "much has been diminished by the situation in the troubled region."