The DRC has characterized the European Union's ongoing minerals deal with Rwanda as exhibiting "obvious contradiction" while enforcing significantly wider sanctions in response to the war in Ukraine.
Government Sharp Rebuke
Thérèse Kayikwamba Wagner, the DRC's top diplomat, demanded the EU to impose much stronger restrictions against Rwanda, which has been accused of fueling the conflict in eastern DRC.
"This shows evident inconsistency – I strive to be productive here – that makes us questioning and inquisitive about grasping why the EU again struggles so much to enact sanctions," she emphasized.
Peace Agreement Background
The DRC and Rwanda ratified a conflict resolution in June, mediated by the America and Qatar, aiming to resolve the decades-old dispute.
However, deadly attacks on ordinary citizens have endured and a time limit to reach a lasting resolution was not met in August.
UN Report
Last year, a group of UN experts found that up to 4,000 Rwandan troops were supporting the M23 rebel group and that the Rwandan military was in "de facto control of M23 operations."
Rwanda has consistently denied supporting M23 and claims its forces act in self-defence.
Leadership Call
The DRC president, Félix Tshisekedi, recently called upon his Rwandan counterpart, Paul Kagame, to stop supporting armed groups in the DRC during a international conference featuring both leaders.
"This necessitates you to instruct the M23 troops assisted by your country to stop this deterioration, which has already led to enough deaths," the president declared.
International Restrictions
The EU has imposed restrictions against 32 persons and two groups – a rebel organization and a Rwandan precious metals processor dealing in unauthorized sources of the metal – for their role in intensifying the conflict.
Despite these findings of international law breaches by the Rwandan army in the DRC, the Brussels administration has declined requests to cancel a 2024 resource partnership with Kigali.
Economic Implications
Wagner labeled the partnership with Rwanda as "lacking all legitimacy in a context where it has been established that Rwanda has been siphoning off African wealth" obtained under harsh circumstances of compulsory work, including children.
The United States and various countries have raised concerns about illegal trade in mineral resources in DRC's east, obtained via coerced employment, then smuggled to Rwanda for shipment to finance militant factions.
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 nutritional challenges, including 4 million at critical stages, according to UN data.
International Engagement
As the DRC's chief diplomat, Wagner signed the accord with Rwanda at the US presidential residence in June, which also aims to give the United States greater access to DRC minerals.
She asserted that the US remains engaged in the diplomatic negotiations and denied claims that main concern was the DRC's vast mineral wealth.
European Partnership
The EU leader, Ursula von der Leyen, inaugurated a conference by stating that the EU wanted "collaboration based on mutual benefits and honoring independence."
She emphasized the Lobito corridor – multi-modal transport links – joining the mineral heartlands of the DRC and Zambia to Angola's ocean access.
Wagner recognized that the EU and DRC had a strong foundation in the Lobito project, but "a great deal has been diminished by the situation in the troubled region."
