DRC Condemns EU's Mineral Deal with Rwanda as ‘Obvious Hypocrisy’

The Democratic Republic of Congo has characterized the European Union's ongoing minerals agreement with Rwanda as exhibiting "clear hypocrisy" while enforcing much broader penalties in response to the Ukraine conflict.

Government Sharp Rebuke

Thérèse Kayikwamba Wagner, the Congo's international affairs chief, called for the EU to enact significantly tougher sanctions against Rwanda, which has been charged with intensifying the unrest in eastern DRC.

"This demonstrates obvious double standards – I aim to be helpful here – that makes us curious and inquisitive about comprehending why the EU repeatedly finds it difficult so much to take action," she emphasized.

Conflict Resolution Background

The DRC and Rwanda ratified a ceasefire deal in June, mediated by the America and Qatar, intending to end the protracted conflict.

However, lethal incidents on civilians have persisted and a deadline to achieve a final settlement was missed in August.

UN Report

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 "effective direction of M23 operations."

Rwanda has repeatedly rejected assisting M23 and maintains its forces act in self-protection.

Diplomatic Request

The DRC president, Félix Tshisekedi, recently called upon his Rwandan counterpart, Paul Kagame, to stop supporting militants in the DRC during a European gathering including both leaders.

"This demands you to order the M23 troops backed by your country to end this deterioration, which has already caused enough fatalities," the leader emphasized.

European Measures

The EU has imposed restrictions against 32 persons and two entities – a militant group and a Rwandan precious metals processor processing contraband materials of the metal – for their involvement in prolonging the conflict.

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

Mineral Issues

Wagner labeled the memorandum of understanding with Rwanda as "lacking all legitimacy in a environment where it has been confirmed that Rwanda has been diverting African wealth" extracted under harsh circumstances of compulsory work, affecting children.

The United States and various countries have expressed alarm about unauthorized transactions in gold and tantalum in eastern Congo, extracted via forced labour, then trafficked to Rwanda for shipment to benefit armed groups.

Regional Emergency

The conflict in DRC's eastern territories remains one of the world's worst human catastrophes, with over 7.8 million people relocated within country in affected areas and 28 million confronting nutritional challenges, including 4 million at crisis conditions, according to UN reports.

Global Involvement

As the DRC's principal negotiator, Wagner approved the accord with Rwanda at the White House in June, which also attempts to give the United States enhanced entry to Congolese natural resources.

She maintained that the US remains participating in the peace process and denied suggestions that primary interest was the DRC's extensive resource deposits.

International Collaboration

The Brussels chief, Ursula von der Leyen, opened a conference by declaring that the EU wanted "cooperation based on shared objectives and honoring independence."

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

Wagner recognized that the EU and DRC had a strong foundation in the Lobito project, but "significant aspects has been diminished by the situation in Congo's east."