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

Diplomatic Strong Criticism

Thérèse Kayikwamba Wagner, the DRC's top diplomat, called for the EU to implement far more severe restrictions against Rwanda, which has been alleged to exacerbate the conflict in Congo's eastern region.

"This demonstrates obvious double standards – I strive to be constructive here – that makes us curious and interested about understanding why the EU repeatedly finds it difficult so much to take action," she declared.

Ceasefire Deal Background

The DRC and Rwanda ratified a ceasefire deal in June, facilitated by the US and Qatar, aiming to end the protracted hostilities.

However, deadly attacks on ordinary citizens have continued and a deadline to establish a comprehensive peace agreement was missed in August.

Expert Assessment

Last year, a United Nations panel reported that up to 4,000 Rwandan troops were fighting alongside the M23 militant organization 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 self-defence.

Diplomatic Request

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

"This requires you to instruct the M23 troops assisted by your country to stop this deterioration, which has already resulted in enough fatalities," the president declared.

European Measures

The EU has enacted measures targeting 32 persons and two groups – a militant group and a Rwandan mineral treatment facility processing unauthorized sources of the metal – for their participation in fuelling the conflict.

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

Economic Implications

Wagner characterized the memorandum of understanding with Rwanda as "completely untrustworthy in a situation where it has been verified that Rwanda has been diverting African wealth" obtained under severe situations of forced labour, affecting children.

The United States and various countries have raised concerns about illicit commerce in gold and tantalum in Congo's eastern region, obtained via coerced employment, then trafficked to Rwanda for shipment to benefit militant factions.

Human Catastrophe

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

Diplomatic Efforts

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

She stated that the US remains engaged in the peace process and dismissed suggestions that main concern was the DRC's vast mineral wealth.

International Collaboration

The Brussels chief, Ursula von der Leyen, opened a gathering by declaring that the EU wanted "cooperation based on common interests and honoring independence."

She highlighted the Lobito corridor – transportation infrastructure transport links – connecting the mineral heartlands of the DRC and Zambia to Angola's ocean access.

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