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The Central African nation has labeled the European Union's ongoing minerals deal with Rwanda as exhibiting "obvious double standards" while imposing far more extensive restrictions in response to the Ukrainian crisis.

Diplomatic Firm Condemnation

Thérèse Kayikwamba Wagner, the African nation's foreign minister, called for the EU to enact much stronger restrictions against Rwanda, which has been alleged to exacerbate the violence in Congo's eastern region.

"This demonstrates evident inconsistency – I strive to be productive here – that has us curious and concerned about understanding why the EU again struggles so much to enact sanctions," she declared.

Peace Agreement Context

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

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

UN Report

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

Rwanda has repeatedly rejected assisting M23 and claims its forces act in self-defence.

Diplomatic Request

The DRC president, Félix Tshisekedi, recently urged his Rwandan counterpart, Paul Kagame, to end assistance to armed groups in the DRC during a Brussels event featuring both leaders.

"This requires you to command the M23 troops supported by your country to stop this intensification, which has already resulted in sufficient fatalities," Tshisekedi stated.

European Measures

The EU has placed sanctions on 32 people and two organizations – a rebel organization and a Rwandan gold refiner processing illegal supplies of the metal – for their role in prolonging the conflict.

Despite these conclusions of rights violations by the Rwandan army in the DRC, the European Commission has declined requests to terminate a 2024 minerals deal with Kigali.

Economic Implications

Wagner described the partnership with Rwanda as "completely untrustworthy in a situation where it has been verified that Rwanda has been illegally extracting African wealth" mined under harsh circumstances of forced labour, affecting children.

The United States and many others have voiced apprehension about illegal trade in mineral resources in DRC's east, mined via compulsory work, then illegally transported to Rwanda for international trade to finance militant factions.

Humanitarian Crisis

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

Global Involvement

As the DRC's chief diplomat, Wagner signed the deal with Rwanda at the White House in June, which also seeks to give the United States enhanced entry to Congolese natural resources.

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

EU Cooperation

The EU leader, Ursula von der Leyen, inaugurated a gathering by declaring that the EU wanted "collaboration based on shared objectives and respect for sovereignty."

She featured the Lobito corridor – rail, road and water transport links – joining the mining regions of the DRC and Zambia to Angola's Atlantic coast.

Wagner acknowledged that the EU and DRC had a firm groundwork in the Lobito project, but "a great deal has been eclipsed by the crisis in eastern DRC."