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

The Democratic Republic of Congo has described the European Union's continued minerals deal with Rwanda as demonstrating "obvious double standards" while imposing much broader sanctions in response to the Ukraine conflict.

Foreign Minister's Strong Criticism

Thérèse Kayikwamba Wagner, the African nation's international affairs chief, demanded the EU to implement significantly tougher restrictions against Rwanda, which has been accused of fueling the violence in DRC's eastern territories.

"It represents obvious double standards – I want to be constructive here – that has us questioning and concerned about understanding why the EU again struggles so much to take action," she declared.

Ceasefire Deal Background

The DRC and Rwanda ratified a conflict resolution in June, brokered by the America and Qatar, intending to end the long-standing hostilities.

However, lethal incidents on ordinary citizens have persisted and a time limit to achieve a comprehensive peace agreement was missed in August.

International Findings

Last year, a United Nations panel 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 maintains its forces act in self-protection.

Presidential Appeal

The DRC president, Félix Tshisekedi, recently appealed to his Rwandan counterpart, Paul Kagame, to stop supporting rebel forces in the DRC during a international conference attended by both leaders.

"This demands you to instruct the M23 troops assisted by your country to stop this intensification, which has already resulted in sufficient casualties," Tshisekedi stated.

International Restrictions

The EU has imposed restrictions against 32 persons and two groups – a armed faction and a Rwandan precious metals processor handling unauthorized sources of the metal – for their participation in prolonging the conflict.

Despite these findings of international law breaches by the Rwandan army in the DRC, the Brussels administration has resisted calls to suspend a 2024 resource partnership with Kigali.

Resource Concerns

Wagner labeled the memorandum of understanding with Rwanda as "completely untrustworthy in a context where it has been verified that Rwanda has been diverting DRC minerals" extracted under severe situations of forced labour, including children.

The United States and many others have expressed alarm about illicit commerce in mineral resources in eastern Congo, obtained via compulsory work, then illegally transported to Rwanda for export to finance armed groups.

Humanitarian Crisis

The violence in eastern DRC remains one of the world's gravest humanitarian crises, with exceeding 7.8 million people forced from homes in the region and 28 million confronting hunger issues, including 4 million at critical stages, according to UN reports.

Diplomatic Efforts

As the DRC's principal negotiator, Wagner signed the deal with Rwanda at the American administration in June, which also seeks to give the United States greater access to African wealth.

She stated that the US remains participating in the diplomatic negotiations and dismissed allegations that main concern was the DRC's vast mineral wealth.

International Collaboration

The EU leader, Ursula von der Leyen, inaugurated a conference by emphasizing that the EU wanted "partnerships based on mutual benefits and honoring independence."

She highlighted the Lobito corridor – rail, road and water transport links – connecting the resource-rich areas of the DRC and Zambia to Angola's Atlantic coast.

Wagner acknowledged that the EU and DRC had a solid basis in the Lobito project, but "much has been overshadowed by the situation in the troubled region."