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The Central African nation has characterized the European Union's ongoing minerals deal with Rwanda as exhibiting "evident contradiction" while enforcing far more extensive penalties in response to the Ukraine conflict.

Government Strong Criticism

Thérèse Kayikwamba Wagner, the African nation's top diplomat, demanded the EU to implement far more severe sanctions against Rwanda, which has been charged with intensifying the conflict in DRC's eastern territories.

"This shows clear double standards – I strive to be helpful here – that leaves us questioning and inquisitive about grasping why the EU repeatedly finds it difficult so much to implement measures," she emphasized.

Ceasefire Deal History

The DRC and Rwanda ratified a ceasefire deal in June, facilitated by the United States and Qatar, aiming to end the protracted hostilities.

However, deadly attacks on non-combatants have endured and a deadline to achieve a comprehensive peace agreement was missed in August.

International Findings

Last year, a group of UN experts reported that up to 4,000 Rwandan troops were supporting the M23 insurgent faction and that the Rwandan military was in "actual command of M23 operations."

Rwanda has continually refuted supporting M23 and claims its forces act in self-defence.

Presidential Appeal

The DRC president, Félix Tshisekedi, recently called upon his Rwandan counterpart, Paul Kagame, to stop supporting militants in the DRC during a international conference featuring both leaders.

"This requires you to order the M23 troops supported by your country to halt this deterioration, which has already led to numerous deaths," Tshisekedi stated.

International Restrictions

The EU has imposed restrictions against 32 individuals and two groups – a armed faction and a Rwandan gold refiner dealing in unauthorized sources of the metal – for their participation in intensifying the conflict.

Despite these determinations of international law breaches by the Rwandan army in the DRC, the European Commission has rejected calls to terminate a 2024 resource partnership with Kigali.

Mineral Issues

Wagner labeled the memorandum of understanding with Rwanda as "lacking all legitimacy in a situation where it has been confirmed that Rwanda has been siphoning off DRC minerals" mined under harsh circumstances of forced labour, including children.

The United States and many others have voiced apprehension about illegal trade in mineral resources in eastern Congo, obtained via coerced employment, then trafficked to Rwanda for export to support armed groups.

Humanitarian Crisis

The conflict in DRC's eastern territories remains one of the world's gravest humanitarian crises, with over 7.8 million people relocated within country in affected areas and 28 million experiencing food insecurity, including 4 million at emergency levels, according to UN data.

Global Involvement

As the DRC's chief diplomat, Wagner approved the accord with Rwanda at the US presidential residence in June, which also attempts to give the United States expanded opportunity to DRC minerals.

She stated that the US remains engaged in the diplomatic negotiations and dismissed claims that sole motivation was the DRC's vast mineral wealth.

EU Cooperation

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

She highlighted the Lobito corridor – rail, road and water transport links – connecting the mining regions of the DRC and Zambia to Angola's western shoreline.

Wagner acknowledged that the EU and DRC had a strong foundation in the Lobito project, but "a great deal has been eclipsed by the conflict in the troubled region."