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The Central African nation has labeled the European Union's ongoing minerals agreement with Rwanda as exhibiting "clear contradiction" while imposing significantly wider sanctions in response to the war in Ukraine.

Foreign Minister's Firm Condemnation

Thérèse Kayikwamba Wagner, the DRC's top diplomat, demanded the EU to impose significantly tougher measures against Rwanda, which has been alleged to exacerbate the violence in DRC's eastern territories.

"It represents clear hypocrisy – I strive to be constructive here – that has us wondering and inquisitive about understanding why the EU again struggles so much to enact sanctions," she emphasized.

Conflict Resolution History

The DRC and Rwanda ratified a peace agreement in June, brokered by the America and Qatar, intending to conclude the protracted conflict.

However, lethal incidents on civilians have continued and a time limit to establish 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 supporting the M23 insurgent faction and that the Rwandan military was in "effective direction of M23 operations."

Rwanda has continually refuted supporting M23 and claims its forces act in self-defence.

Presidential Appeal

The DRC president, Félix Tshisekedi, recently appealed to his Rwandan counterpart, Paul Kagame, to cease backing armed groups in the DRC during a European gathering including both leaders.

"This necessitates you to order the M23 troops backed by your country to stop this intensification, which has already led to enough deaths," the leader emphasized.

European Measures

The EU has imposed restrictions against 32 persons and two organizations – a militant group and a Rwandan mineral treatment facility processing contraband materials of the metal – for their participation in prolonging the conflict.

Despite these determinations of rights violations by the Rwandan army in the DRC, the European Commission has rejected calls to suspend a 2024 mining agreement with Kigali.

Mineral Issues

Wagner characterized the memorandum of understanding with Rwanda as "completely untrustworthy in a context where it has been verified that Rwanda has been diverting DRC minerals" extracted under brutal conditions of forced labour, affecting children.

The United States and numerous nations have voiced apprehension about unauthorized transactions in precious metals in DRC's east, extracted via coerced employment, then trafficked to Rwanda for export to support rebel organizations.

Human Catastrophe

The unrest in DRC's eastern territories remains one of the world's most severe human catastrophes, with over 7.8 million people internally displaced in eastern DRC and 28 million experiencing nutritional challenges, including 4 million at critical stages, according to UN reports.

Diplomatic Efforts

As the DRC's top representative, Wagner ratified the accord with Rwanda at the American administration in June, which also aims to give the United States expanded opportunity to African wealth.

She asserted that the US remains engaged in the resolution efforts and dismissed claims that main concern was the DRC's vast mineral wealth.

International Collaboration

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

She emphasized the Lobito corridor – transportation infrastructure transport links – joining the mining regions of the DRC and Zambia to Angola's ocean access.

Wagner admitted that the EU and DRC had a solid basis in the Lobito project, but "a great deal has been overshadowed by the conflict in eastern DRC."