Congo Denounces EU's Rwanda Minerals Agreement as ‘Clear Double Standard’

The Central African nation has labeled the European Union's continued minerals partnership with Rwanda as demonstrating "evident contradiction" while implementing far more extensive penalties in response to the Ukrainian crisis.

Foreign Minister's Sharp Rebuke

Thérèse Kayikwamba Wagner, the Congo's top diplomat, demanded the EU to enact significantly tougher restrictions against Rwanda, which has been alleged to exacerbate the conflict in eastern DRC.

"This demonstrates obvious hypocrisy – I aim to be constructive here – that leaves us curious and inquisitive about grasping why the EU repeatedly finds it difficult so much to take action," she declared.

Conflict Resolution Background

The DRC and Rwanda ratified a peace agreement in June, facilitated by the US and Qatar, designed to resolve the protracted conflict.

However, deadly attacks on civilians have continued and a time limit to achieve a final settlement was passed without success in August.

International Findings

Last year, a international assessment team stated that up to 4,000 Rwandan troops were fighting alongside the M23 rebel group and that the Rwandan military was in "actual command of M23 operations."

Rwanda has continually refuted backing M23 and asserts its forces act in self-protection.

Diplomatic Request

The DRC president, Félix Tshisekedi, recently called upon his Rwandan counterpart, Paul Kagame, to cease backing militants in the DRC during a European gathering attended by both leaders.

"This necessitates you to command the M23 troops assisted by your country to stop this deterioration, which has already led to numerous casualties," Tshisekedi stated.

EU Sanctions

The EU has placed sanctions on 32 persons and two entities – a militant group and a Rwandan gold refiner processing illegal supplies of the metal – for their role in prolonging the conflict.

Despite these findings of international law breaches by the Rwandan army in the DRC, the Brussels administration has declined requests to suspend a 2024 minerals deal with Kigali.

Economic Implications

Wagner described the partnership with Rwanda as "completely untrustworthy in a situation where it has been confirmed that Rwanda has been diverting Congolese resources" mined under harsh circumstances of forced labour, affecting children.

The United States and numerous nations have raised concerns about illicit commerce in precious metals in Congo's eastern region, obtained via compulsory work, then trafficked to Rwanda for export to finance rebel organizations.

Human Catastrophe

The unrest in DRC's eastern territories remains one of the world's gravest humanitarian crises, with more than 7.8 million people relocated within country in affected areas and 28 million facing hunger issues, including 4 million at crisis conditions, according to UN data.

International Engagement

As the DRC's chief diplomat, Wagner ratified the agreement with Rwanda at the US presidential residence in June, which also seeks to give the United States enhanced entry to DRC minerals.

She asserted that the US remains engaged in the diplomatic negotiations and denied suggestions that primary interest was the DRC's extensive resource deposits.

EU Cooperation

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

She emphasized the Lobito corridor – multi-modal 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 diminished by the crisis in Congo's east."