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The DRC has described the European Union's continued minerals agreement with Rwanda as demonstrating "evident hypocrisy" while imposing significantly wider restrictions in response to the Ukrainian crisis.

Foreign Minister's Firm Condemnation

Thérèse Kayikwamba Wagner, the Congo's international affairs chief, urged the EU to implement significantly tougher sanctions against Rwanda, which has been charged with intensifying the conflict in DRC's eastern territories.

"This shows evident hypocrisy – I want to be productive here – that makes us wondering and inquisitive about understanding why the EU again struggles so much to enact sanctions," she emphasized.

Ceasefire Deal History

The DRC and Rwanda signed a peace agreement in June, mediated by the United States and Qatar, aiming to resolve the protracted hostilities.

However, lethal incidents on civilians have endured and a deadline to reach a lasting resolution was missed in August.

UN Report

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

Rwanda has repeatedly rejected backing M23 and claims its forces act in national security.

Presidential Appeal

The DRC president, Félix Tshisekedi, recently urged his Rwandan counterpart, Paul Kagame, to cease backing armed groups in the DRC during a European gathering including both leaders.

"This necessitates you to order the M23 troops backed by your country to halt this escalation, which has already caused sufficient deaths," Tshisekedi stated.

European Measures

The EU has imposed restrictions against 32 persons and two groups – a armed faction and a Rwandan mineral treatment facility dealing in illegal supplies of the metal – for their role in fuelling the conflict.

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

Mineral Issues

Wagner labeled the agreement with Rwanda as "completely untrustworthy in a context where it has been confirmed that Rwanda has been diverting African wealth" mined under harsh circumstances of forced labour, including children.

The United States and many others have expressed alarm about illegal trade in mineral resources in eastern Congo, extracted via forced labour, then illegally transported to Rwanda for export to support militant factions.

Human Catastrophe

The unrest in DRC's eastern territories remains one of the world's gravest humanitarian crises, with over 7.8 million people forced from homes in affected areas and 28 million experiencing hunger issues, including 4 million at emergency levels, according to UN reports.

Global Involvement

As the DRC's top representative, Wagner ratified the deal with Rwanda at the American administration in June, which also aims to give the United States greater access to Congolese natural resources.

She asserted that the US remains involved in the peace process and rejected claims that primary interest was the DRC's significant natural resources.

European Partnership

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

She emphasized the Lobito corridor – transportation infrastructure transport links – connecting the resource-rich areas of the DRC and Zambia to Angola's ocean access.

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