DRC Condemns EU's Rwanda Minerals Agreement as ‘Clear Double Standard’

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

Diplomatic Strong Criticism

Thérèse Kayikwamba Wagner, the African nation's foreign minister, called for the EU to enact much stronger sanctions against Rwanda, which has been accused of fueling the violence in DRC's eastern territories.

"This shows clear double standards – I want to be helpful here – that leaves us curious and inquisitive about grasping why the EU repeatedly finds it difficult so much to take action," she emphasized.

Ceasefire Deal Context

The DRC and Rwanda ratified a ceasefire deal in June, mediated by the America and Qatar, aiming to conclude the protracted hostilities.

However, lethal incidents on civilians have endured and a time limit to achieve a final settlement was passed without success in August.

UN Report

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

Rwanda has repeatedly rejected supporting M23 and claims 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 Brussels event attended by both leaders.

"This requires you to order the M23 troops supported by your country to halt this escalation, which has already resulted in sufficient casualties," the leader emphasized.

International Restrictions

The EU has placed sanctions on 32 individuals and two groups – a rebel organization and a Rwandan gold refiner dealing in illegal supplies of the metal – for their participation in fuelling the conflict.

Despite these conclusions of international law breaches by the Rwandan army in the DRC, the European Commission has rejected demands to terminate a 2024 resource partnership with Kigali.

Mineral Issues

Wagner described the memorandum of understanding with Rwanda as "lacking all legitimacy in a situation where it has been verified that Rwanda has been siphoning off DRC minerals" mined under harsh circumstances of coerced employment, involving children.

The United States and numerous nations have raised concerns about illegal trade in gold and tantalum in DRC's east, obtained via forced labour, then trafficked to Rwanda for international trade to finance armed groups.

Humanitarian Crisis

The violence in eastern DRC remains one of the world's gravest emergency situations, with over 7.8 million people relocated within country in the region and 28 million confronting food insecurity, including 4 million at crisis conditions, according to UN data.

Global Involvement

As the DRC's principal negotiator, Wagner ratified the deal with Rwanda at the American administration in June, which also attempts to give the United States expanded opportunity to DRC minerals.

She stated that the US remains engaged in the resolution efforts and denied allegations that main concern was the DRC's extensive resource deposits.

International Collaboration

The European Commission president, Ursula von der Leyen, commenced a summit by emphasizing that the EU wanted "partnerships based on mutual benefits and honoring independence."

She featured the Lobito corridor – transportation infrastructure transport links – linking the resource-rich areas of the DRC and Zambia to Angola's ocean access.

Wagner recognized that the EU and DRC had a strong foundation in the Lobito project, but "significant aspects has been overshadowed by the situation in the troubled region."