DRC Condemns EU's Rwanda Minerals Agreement as ‘Clear Double Standard’

The DRC has described the European Union's ongoing minerals agreement with Rwanda as showing "obvious hypocrisy" while enforcing significantly wider restrictions in response to the Ukraine conflict.

Government Strong Criticism

Thérèse Kayikwamba Wagner, the African nation's top diplomat, called for the EU to implement significantly tougher sanctions against Rwanda, which has been charged with intensifying the violence in Congo's eastern region.

"It represents evident double standards – I want to be helpful here – that has us curious and interested about grasping why the EU again struggles so much to enact sanctions," she stated.

Ceasefire Deal History

The DRC and Rwanda signed a conflict resolution in June, brokered by the America and Qatar, intending to end the protracted conflict.

However, deadly attacks on non-combatants have continued and a target date to achieve a final settlement was not met in August.

UN Report

Last year, a international assessment team reported that up to 4,000 Rwandan troops were supporting the M23 insurgent faction and that the Rwandan military was in "de facto control of M23 operations."

Rwanda has continually refuted supporting M23 and maintains its forces act in self-protection.

Presidential Appeal

The DRC president, Félix Tshisekedi, recently urged his Rwandan counterpart, Paul Kagame, to stop supporting rebel forces in the DRC during a European gathering including both leaders.

"This demands you to instruct the M23 troops assisted by your country to stop this escalation, which has already caused sufficient fatalities," Tshisekedi stated.

International Restrictions

The EU has imposed restrictions against 32 persons and two groups – a armed faction and a Rwandan mineral treatment facility handling unauthorized sources of the metal – for their involvement in prolonging the conflict.

Despite these determinations of international law breaches by the Rwandan army in the DRC, the EU executive has resisted calls to cancel a 2024 mining agreement with Kigali.

Resource Concerns

Wagner labeled the agreement with Rwanda as "lacking all legitimacy in a situation where it has been established that Rwanda has been siphoning off African wealth" extracted under brutal conditions of compulsory work, affecting children.

The United States and various countries have raised concerns about illicit commerce in precious metals in Congo's eastern region, obtained via forced labour, then illegally transported to Rwanda for shipment to benefit rebel organizations.

Regional Emergency

The unrest in eastern DRC remains one of the world's most severe humanitarian crises, with over 7.8 million people internally displaced in affected areas and 28 million experiencing food insecurity, including 4 million at critical stages, according to UN data.

Diplomatic Efforts

As the DRC's chief diplomat, Wagner approved the deal with Rwanda at the White House in June, which also aims to give the United States greater access to DRC minerals.

She maintained that the US remains engaged in the peace process and dismissed suggestions that main concern was the DRC's significant natural resources.

EU Cooperation

The EU leader, Ursula von der Leyen, opened a summit by emphasizing that the EU wanted "cooperation based on shared objectives and respect for sovereignty."

She highlighted the Lobito corridor – transportation infrastructure transport links – connecting the mining regions of the DRC and Zambia to Angola's Atlantic coast.

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