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The Central African nation has described the European Union's continued minerals agreement with Rwanda as exhibiting "obvious double standards" while implementing significantly wider restrictions in response to the Ukrainian crisis.

Foreign Minister's Firm Condemnation

Thérèse Kayikwamba Wagner, the DRC's top diplomat, called for the EU to enact far more severe sanctions against Rwanda, which has been accused of fueling the violence in Congo's eastern region.

"This shows clear double standards – I aim to be productive here – that has us questioning and inquisitive about understanding why the EU again struggles so much to take action," she emphasized.

Peace Agreement Context

The DRC and Rwanda signed a ceasefire deal in June, facilitated by the United States and Qatar, intending to end the protracted conflict.

However, deadly attacks on civilians have persisted and a time limit to achieve a lasting resolution was passed without success in August.

Expert Assessment

Last year, a international assessment team reported that up to 4,000 Rwandan troops were operating with the M23 militant organization and that the Rwandan military was in "de facto control of M23 operations."

Rwanda has consistently denied backing M23 and asserts its forces act in self-protection.

Diplomatic Request

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

"This demands you to command the M23 troops assisted by your country to stop this intensification, which has already led to numerous deaths," the president declared.

European Measures

The EU has placed sanctions on 32 people and two groups – a armed faction and a Rwandan mineral treatment facility processing unauthorized sources of the metal – for their participation in intensifying the conflict.

Despite these findings of international law breaches by the Rwandan army in the DRC, the EU executive has rejected demands to terminate a 2024 mining agreement with Kigali.

Economic Implications

Wagner characterized the agreement with Rwanda as "void of any credibility in a context where it has been verified that Rwanda has been diverting African wealth" extracted under harsh circumstances of forced labour, involving children.

The United States and many others have expressed alarm about unauthorized transactions in precious metals in Congo's eastern region, obtained via compulsory work, then illegally transported to Rwanda for shipment to support armed groups.

Humanitarian Crisis

The unrest in eastern DRC remains one of the world's most severe human catastrophes, with more than 7.8 million people forced from homes in affected areas and 28 million facing food insecurity, including 4 million at crisis conditions, according to UN reports.

Diplomatic Efforts

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

She stated 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, commenced a gathering by declaring that the EU wanted "collaboration based on shared objectives and acknowledging autonomy."

She emphasized the Lobito corridor – rail, road and water transport links – joining the mineral heartlands of the DRC and Zambia to Angola's western shoreline.

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