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The Democratic Republic of Congo has characterized the European Union's continued minerals deal with Rwanda as showing "obvious hypocrisy" while imposing much broader restrictions in response to the Ukrainian crisis.

Foreign Minister's Firm Condemnation

Thérèse Kayikwamba Wagner, the African nation's foreign minister, urged the EU to implement far more severe restrictions against Rwanda, which has been accused of fueling the unrest in Congo's eastern region.

"This demonstrates clear hypocrisy – I aim to be helpful here – that has us questioning and inquisitive about understanding why the EU repeatedly finds it difficult so much to implement measures," she emphasized.

Conflict Resolution History

The DRC and Rwanda signed a ceasefire deal in June, mediated by the America and Qatar, intending to end the long-standing conflict.

However, deadly attacks on non-combatants have endured and a time limit to establish a lasting resolution was not met in August.

Expert Assessment

Last year, a United Nations panel found 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 consistently denied backing M23 and claims its forces act in self-protection.

Leadership Call

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

"This necessitates you to order the M23 troops assisted by your country to stop this intensification, which has already caused numerous casualties," Tshisekedi stated.

EU Sanctions

The EU has placed sanctions on 32 people and two organizations – a armed faction and a Rwandan precious metals processor dealing in illegal supplies of the metal – for their role in prolonging the conflict.

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

Mineral Issues

Wagner described the memorandum of understanding with Rwanda as "completely untrustworthy in a situation where it has been confirmed that Rwanda has been diverting DRC minerals" mined under harsh circumstances of forced labour, involving children.

The United States and various countries have expressed alarm about unauthorized transactions in gold and tantalum in eastern Congo, mined via coerced employment, then smuggled to Rwanda for international trade to benefit armed groups.

Regional Emergency

The conflict in eastern DRC remains one of the world's worst human catastrophes, with exceeding 7.8 million people internally displaced in the region and 28 million confronting hunger issues, including 4 million at emergency levels, according to UN assessments.

International Engagement

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 African wealth.

She asserted that the US remains engaged in the diplomatic negotiations and rejected allegations that sole motivation was the DRC's vast mineral wealth.

EU Cooperation

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

She featured the Lobito corridor – multi-modal transport links – connecting the mineral heartlands of the DRC and Zambia to Angola's Atlantic coast.

Wagner admitted that the EU and DRC had a strong foundation in the Lobito project, but "significant aspects has been eclipsed by the situation in the troubled region."