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The DRC has characterized the European Union's continued minerals agreement with Rwanda as showing "evident double standards" while imposing significantly wider sanctions in response to the Ukrainian crisis.

Diplomatic Sharp Rebuke

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

"It represents obvious inconsistency – I strive to be productive here – that leaves us wondering and interested about comprehending why the EU repeatedly finds it difficult so much to enact sanctions," she declared.

Ceasefire Deal Context

The DRC and Rwanda agreed to a ceasefire deal in June, mediated by the United States and Qatar, designed to end the protracted conflict.

However, deadly attacks on civilians have continued and a target date to reach a lasting resolution was not met in August.

UN Report

Last year, a international assessment team reported that up to 4,000 Rwandan troops were fighting alongside the M23 rebel group and that the Rwandan military was in "effective direction of M23 operations."

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

Diplomatic Request

The DRC president, Félix Tshisekedi, recently appealed to his Rwandan counterpart, Paul Kagame, to end assistance to militants in the DRC during a international conference including both leaders.

"This requires you to instruct the M23 troops backed by your country to end this intensification, which has already led to sufficient casualties," the leader emphasized.

European Measures

The EU has imposed restrictions against 32 persons and two entities – a armed faction and a Rwandan gold refiner processing unauthorized sources of the metal – for their involvement in fuelling the conflict.

Despite these determinations of international law breaches by the Rwandan army in the DRC, the Brussels administration has rejected demands to cancel a 2024 resource partnership with Kigali.

Mineral Issues

Wagner described the agreement with Rwanda as "completely untrustworthy in a situation where it has been established that Rwanda has been siphoning off Congolese resources" mined under brutal conditions of compulsory work, affecting children.

The United States and many others have raised concerns about illicit commerce in gold and tantalum in DRC's east, mined via forced labour, then trafficked to Rwanda for export to finance armed groups.

Human Catastrophe

The conflict in eastern DRC remains one of the world's worst emergency situations, with over 7.8 million people internally displaced in affected areas and 28 million facing nutritional challenges, including 4 million at emergency levels, according to UN reports.

Global Involvement

As the DRC's principal negotiator, Wagner ratified the agreement with Rwanda at the US presidential residence in June, which also attempts to give the United States enhanced entry to African wealth.

She maintained that the US remains participating in the peace process and dismissed allegations that primary interest was the DRC's significant natural resources.

EU Cooperation

The Brussels chief, Ursula von der Leyen, inaugurated a conference by emphasizing that the EU wanted "partnerships based on shared objectives and honoring independence."

She featured the Lobito corridor – rail, road and water transport links – linking 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 "a great deal has been eclipsed by the situation in the troubled region."