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The DRC has labeled the European Union's ongoing minerals agreement with Rwanda as exhibiting "obvious hypocrisy" while imposing much broader penalties in response to the Ukraine conflict.

Diplomatic Sharp Rebuke

Thérèse Kayikwamba Wagner, the African nation's top diplomat, called for the EU to enact significantly tougher measures against Rwanda, which has been accused of fueling the violence in Congo's eastern region.

"It represents evident hypocrisy – I strive to be productive here – that makes us curious and interested about understanding why the EU again struggles so much to enact sanctions," she emphasized.

Ceasefire Deal History

The DRC and Rwanda ratified a conflict resolution in June, facilitated by the US and Qatar, aiming to conclude the decades-old dispute.

However, lethal incidents on non-combatants have continued and a time limit to establish 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 fighting alongside the M23 rebel group and that the Rwandan military was in "de facto control of M23 operations."

Rwanda has continually refuted assisting M23 and maintains its forces act in national security.

Diplomatic Request

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

"This requires you to command the M23 troops supported by your country to end this escalation, which has already caused numerous deaths," the president declared.

International Restrictions

The EU has imposed restrictions against 32 people and two organizations – a militant group and a Rwandan precious metals processor handling illegal supplies of the metal – for their role in prolonging the conflict.

Despite these determinations of human rights abuses by the Rwandan army in the DRC, the EU executive has resisted calls to suspend a 2024 mining agreement with Kigali.

Resource Concerns

Wagner characterized the partnership with Rwanda as "void of any credibility in a situation where it has been confirmed that Rwanda has been siphoning off Congolese resources" mined under brutal conditions of coerced employment, involving children.

The United States and numerous nations have raised concerns about illicit commerce in gold and tantalum in DRC's east, mined via compulsory work, then trafficked to Rwanda for shipment to support militant factions.

Human Catastrophe

The conflict in Congo's east remains one of the world's worst human catastrophes, with over 7.8 million people internally displaced in affected areas and 28 million confronting food insecurity, including 4 million at emergency levels, according to UN reports.

International Engagement

As the DRC's top representative, Wagner ratified the deal with Rwanda at the US presidential residence in June, which also aims to give the United States greater access to DRC minerals.

She maintained that the US remains participating in the diplomatic negotiations and dismissed allegations that primary interest was the DRC's vast mineral wealth.

European Partnership

The Brussels chief, Ursula von der Leyen, opened a gathering by declaring that the EU wanted "collaboration based on common interests and respect for sovereignty."

She emphasized the Lobito corridor – transportation infrastructure transport links – linking the mining regions 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 "a great deal has been eclipsed by the crisis in eastern DRC."