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

Diplomatic Strong Criticism

Thérèse Kayikwamba Wagner, the DRC's top diplomat, called for the EU to implement significantly tougher measures against Rwanda, which has been alleged to exacerbate the conflict in DRC's eastern territories.

"This shows obvious double standards – I aim to be helpful here – that leaves us curious and inquisitive about comprehending why the EU again struggles so much to take action," she stated.

Conflict Resolution Background

The DRC and Rwanda ratified a conflict resolution in June, brokered by the United States and Qatar, aiming to resolve the long-standing conflict.

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

International Findings

Last year, a group of UN experts found 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 continually refuted backing M23 and claims its forces act in national security.

Diplomatic Request

The DRC president, Félix Tshisekedi, recently called upon his Rwandan counterpart, Paul Kagame, to cease backing rebel forces in the DRC during a international conference attended by both leaders.

"This demands you to order the M23 troops supported by your country to stop this deterioration, which has already led to numerous fatalities," the leader emphasized.

International Restrictions

The EU has enacted measures targeting 32 persons and two organizations – a rebel organization and a Rwandan gold refiner processing unauthorized sources 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 EU executive has rejected requests to terminate a 2024 minerals deal with Kigali.

Economic Implications

Wagner characterized the memorandum of understanding with Rwanda as "lacking all legitimacy in a environment where it has been confirmed that Rwanda has been diverting Congolese resources" mined under severe situations of coerced employment, affecting children.

The United States and numerous nations have expressed alarm about illegal trade in mineral resources in eastern Congo, extracted via compulsory work, then illegally transported to Rwanda for international trade to benefit rebel organizations.

Human Catastrophe

The conflict in eastern DRC remains one of the world's worst humanitarian crises, with exceeding 7.8 million people forced from homes in affected areas and 28 million experiencing nutritional challenges, including 4 million at crisis conditions, according to UN data.

International Engagement

As the DRC's principal negotiator, Wagner ratified the agreement with Rwanda at the White House in June, which also attempts to give the United States greater access to DRC minerals.

She asserted that the US remains participating in the diplomatic negotiations and denied allegations that sole motivation was the DRC's extensive resource deposits.

EU Cooperation

The Brussels chief, Ursula von der Leyen, inaugurated a summit by stating that the EU wanted "cooperation based on mutual benefits and acknowledging autonomy."

She featured the Lobito corridor – transportation infrastructure transport links – connecting the resource-rich areas of the DRC and Zambia to Angola's Atlantic coast.

Wagner admitted that the EU and DRC had a firm groundwork in the Lobito project, but "significant aspects has been overshadowed by the crisis in Congo's east."