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The Central African nation has characterized the European Union's persistent minerals partnership with Rwanda as showing "evident contradiction" while imposing significantly wider penalties in response to the Ukrainian crisis.

Government Sharp Rebuke

Thérèse Kayikwamba Wagner, the Congo's international affairs chief, called for the EU to implement far more severe measures against Rwanda, which has been accused of fueling the violence in Congo's eastern region.

"It represents obvious inconsistency – I strive to be productive here – that makes us curious and inquisitive about comprehending why the EU repeatedly finds it difficult so much to take action," she stated.

Peace Agreement Background

The DRC and Rwanda agreed to a peace agreement in June, facilitated by the United States and Qatar, intending to end the protracted hostilities.

However, deadly attacks on ordinary citizens have endured and a time limit to reach a final settlement was missed in August.

Expert Assessment

Last year, a group of UN experts stated that up to 4,000 Rwandan troops were operating with the M23 insurgent faction and that the Rwandan military was in "effective direction of M23 operations."

Rwanda has repeatedly rejected supporting M23 and maintains its forces act in national security.

Presidential Appeal

The DRC president, Félix Tshisekedi, recently urged his Rwandan counterpart, Paul Kagame, to end assistance to rebel forces in the DRC during a international conference featuring both leaders.

"This necessitates you to command the M23 troops backed by your country to end this intensification, which has already resulted in enough casualties," the president declared.

International Restrictions

The EU has enacted measures targeting 32 individuals and two groups – a rebel organization and a Rwandan gold refiner processing contraband materials of the metal – for their participation in prolonging the conflict.

Despite these findings of international law breaches by the Rwandan army in the DRC, the EU executive has declined demands to cancel a 2024 minerals deal with Kigali.

Economic Implications

Wagner labeled the memorandum of understanding with Rwanda as "completely untrustworthy in a context where it has been established that Rwanda has been illegally extracting DRC minerals" extracted under severe situations of compulsory work, including children.

The United States and many others have voiced apprehension about unauthorized transactions in mineral resources in DRC's east, mined via forced labour, then illegally transported to Rwanda for shipment to benefit militant factions.

Regional Emergency

The violence in eastern DRC remains one of the world's gravest emergency situations, with over 7.8 million people forced from homes in the region and 28 million experiencing food insecurity, including 4 million at emergency levels, according to UN data.

Diplomatic Efforts

As the DRC's chief diplomat, Wagner ratified the accord with Rwanda at the White House in June, which also seeks to give the United States greater access to African wealth.

She maintained that the US remains participating in the resolution efforts and dismissed claims that primary interest was the DRC's vast mineral wealth.

EU Cooperation

The EU leader, Ursula von der Leyen, inaugurated a gathering by declaring that the EU wanted "partnerships based on mutual benefits and respect for sovereignty."

She highlighted the Lobito corridor – multi-modal transport links – joining the resource-rich areas 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 overshadowed by the crisis in the troubled region."