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The Central African nation has labeled the European Union's continued minerals partnership with Rwanda as showing "evident hypocrisy" while implementing much broader restrictions in response to the Ukraine conflict.

Government Sharp Rebuke

Thérèse Kayikwamba Wagner, the African nation's top diplomat, called for the EU to implement much stronger restrictions against Rwanda, which has been charged with intensifying the violence in DRC's eastern territories.

"This demonstrates obvious inconsistency – I strive to be constructive here – that leaves us wondering and interested about understanding why the EU again struggles so much to take action," she emphasized.

Peace Agreement Background

The DRC and Rwanda signed a conflict resolution in June, mediated by the United States and Qatar, intending to end the decades-old dispute.

However, fatal assaults on non-combatants have persisted and a time limit to achieve a final settlement was not met in August.

Expert Assessment

Last year, a international assessment team reported that up to 4,000 Rwandan troops were fighting alongside the M23 insurgent faction and that the Rwandan military was in "de facto control of M23 operations."

Rwanda has consistently denied supporting M23 and claims its forces act in national security.

Presidential Appeal

The DRC president, Félix Tshisekedi, recently appealed to his Rwandan counterpart, Paul Kagame, to stop supporting rebel forces in the DRC during a European gathering featuring both leaders.

"This requires you to command the M23 troops supported by your country to stop this intensification, which has already caused numerous deaths," the leader emphasized.

EU Sanctions

The EU has enacted measures targeting 32 people and two organizations – a militant group and a Rwandan mineral treatment facility processing illegal supplies of the metal – for their role in intensifying the conflict.

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

Resource Concerns

Wagner labeled the memorandum of understanding with Rwanda as "void of any credibility in a context where it has been established that Rwanda has been siphoning off African wealth" mined under harsh circumstances of compulsory work, involving children.

The United States and many others have raised concerns about illicit commerce in gold and tantalum in DRC's east, mined via compulsory work, then illegally transported to Rwanda for shipment to benefit militant factions.

Regional Emergency

The violence in eastern DRC remains one of the world's worst human catastrophes, with more than 7.8 million people relocated within country in the region and 28 million experiencing hunger issues, including 4 million at emergency levels, according to UN data.

Diplomatic Efforts

As the DRC's principal negotiator, Wagner ratified the accord with Rwanda at the American administration in June, which also seeks to give the United States greater access to DRC minerals.

She maintained that the US remains involved in the peace process and denied claims that sole motivation was the DRC's significant natural resources.

EU Cooperation

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

She emphasized the Lobito corridor – rail, road and water transport links – joining the mineral heartlands 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 "a great deal has been overshadowed by the crisis in Congo's east."