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The Central African nation has labeled the European Union's continued minerals partnership with Rwanda as demonstrating "evident double standards" while implementing significantly wider sanctions in response to the Ukrainian crisis.

Government Sharp Rebuke

Thérèse Kayikwamba Wagner, the African nation's foreign minister, called for the EU to impose much stronger sanctions against Rwanda, which has been alleged to exacerbate the violence in eastern DRC.

"It represents clear inconsistency – I aim to be helpful here – that has us wondering and concerned about grasping why the EU continues to hesitate so much to take action," she emphasized.

Peace Agreement Background

The DRC and Rwanda agreed to a conflict resolution in June, mediated by the US and Qatar, aiming to end the long-standing conflict.

However, deadly attacks on civilians have persisted and a time limit to establish a comprehensive peace agreement was missed in August.

UN Report

Last year, a United Nations panel found 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 consistently denied backing M23 and asserts its forces act in national security.

Leadership Call

The DRC president, Félix Tshisekedi, recently called upon his Rwandan counterpart, Paul Kagame, to cease backing armed groups in the DRC during a Brussels event including both leaders.

"This necessitates you to order the M23 troops assisted by your country to halt this escalation, which has already caused enough fatalities," the leader emphasized.

European Measures

The EU has enacted measures targeting 32 people and two groups – a armed faction and a Rwandan mineral treatment facility dealing in unauthorized sources of the metal – for their role in intensifying the conflict.

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

Mineral Issues

Wagner described the memorandum of understanding with Rwanda as "completely untrustworthy in a environment where it has been confirmed that Rwanda has been diverting Congolese resources" extracted under harsh circumstances of coerced employment, involving children.

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

Human Catastrophe

The unrest in eastern DRC remains one of the world's gravest emergency situations, with exceeding 7.8 million people relocated within country in the region and 28 million facing hunger issues, including 4 million at crisis conditions, according to UN reports.

Diplomatic Efforts

As the DRC's top representative, Wagner approved the deal with Rwanda at the US presidential residence in June, which also aims to give the United States enhanced entry to DRC minerals.

She asserted that the US remains participating in the peace process and dismissed claims that primary interest was the DRC's significant natural resources.

European Partnership

The EU leader, Ursula von der Leyen, opened a conference by stating that the EU wanted "collaboration based on common interests and honoring independence."

She featured the Lobito corridor – rail, road and water transport links – connecting the mineral heartlands of the DRC and Zambia to Angola's Atlantic coast.

Wagner admitted that the EU and DRC had a solid basis in the Lobito project, but "a great deal has been eclipsed by the crisis in the troubled region."