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The Democratic Republic of Congo has characterized the European Union's persistent minerals agreement with Rwanda as demonstrating "clear double standards" while enforcing significantly wider penalties in response to the war in Ukraine.

Foreign Minister's Firm Condemnation

Thérèse Kayikwamba Wagner, the DRC's top diplomat, urged the EU to enact significantly tougher sanctions against Rwanda, which has been alleged to exacerbate the conflict in eastern DRC.

"It represents clear double standards – I strive to be constructive here – that makes us curious and inquisitive about comprehending why the EU repeatedly finds it difficult so much to take action," she emphasized.

Peace Agreement Background

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

However, fatal assaults on civilians have continued and a target date to establish a final settlement was passed without success in August.

Expert Assessment

Last year, a international assessment team stated 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 continually refuted supporting M23 and asserts its forces act in self-defence.

Diplomatic Request

The DRC president, Félix Tshisekedi, recently urged his Rwandan counterpart, Paul Kagame, to stop supporting rebel forces in the DRC during a Brussels event attended by both leaders.

"This necessitates you to command the M23 troops supported by your country to stop this escalation, which has already led to sufficient casualties," Tshisekedi stated.

European Measures

The EU has imposed restrictions against 32 persons and two organizations – a militant group and a Rwandan precious metals processor handling illegal supplies of the metal – for their role in prolonging the conflict.

Despite these conclusions of international law breaches by the Rwandan army in the DRC, the Brussels administration has resisted requests to terminate a 2024 mining agreement with Kigali.

Resource Concerns

Wagner characterized the memorandum of understanding with Rwanda as "completely untrustworthy in a situation where it has been established that Rwanda has been siphoning off DRC minerals" extracted under brutal conditions of coerced employment, affecting children.

The United States and many others have voiced apprehension about illicit commerce in mineral resources in DRC's east, obtained via coerced employment, then trafficked to Rwanda for international trade to support rebel organizations.

Humanitarian Crisis

The violence in Congo's east remains one of the world's most severe humanitarian crises, with exceeding 7.8 million people internally displaced in affected areas and 28 million confronting hunger issues, including 4 million at critical stages, according to UN assessments.

Global Involvement

As the DRC's principal negotiator, Wagner signed the accord with Rwanda at the American administration in June, which also seeks to give the United States greater access to DRC minerals.

She maintained that the US remains involved in the peace process and denied suggestions that primary interest was the DRC's vast mineral wealth.

EU Cooperation

The Brussels chief, Ursula von der Leyen, opened a gathering by emphasizing that the EU wanted "collaboration based on shared objectives and respect for sovereignty."

She highlighted the Lobito corridor – rail, road and water transport links – connecting the mining regions 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 "significant aspects has been overshadowed by the conflict in Congo's east."