Democratic Republic of Congo Criticizes EU's Rwanda Mining Partnership as ‘Evident Contradiction’

The Central African nation has described the European Union's continued minerals partnership with Rwanda as showing "clear contradiction" while enforcing far more extensive penalties in response to the Ukrainian crisis.

Foreign Minister's Strong Criticism

Thérèse Kayikwamba Wagner, the DRC's international affairs chief, urged the EU to implement significantly tougher restrictions against Rwanda, which has been accused of fueling the unrest in eastern DRC.

"This demonstrates clear double standards – I aim to be productive here – that leaves us wondering and interested about understanding why the EU repeatedly finds it difficult so much to take action," she declared.

Peace Agreement History

The DRC and Rwanda signed a peace agreement in June, mediated by the United States and Qatar, aiming to resolve the long-standing hostilities.

However, lethal incidents on civilians have endured and a deadline to achieve a comprehensive peace agreement was passed without success in August.

International Findings

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 "actual command of M23 operations."

Rwanda has consistently denied backing M23 and maintains its forces act in self-defence.

Diplomatic Request

The DRC president, Félix Tshisekedi, recently called upon his Rwandan counterpart, Paul Kagame, to stop supporting rebel forces in the DRC during a Brussels event including both leaders.

"This necessitates you to command the M23 troops assisted by your country to end this intensification, which has already caused sufficient deaths," the president declared.

EU Sanctions

The EU has enacted measures targeting 32 individuals and two groups – a militant group and a Rwandan gold refiner processing illegal supplies of the metal – for their involvement in intensifying the conflict.

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

Mineral Issues

Wagner described the agreement with Rwanda as "completely untrustworthy in a context where it has been confirmed that Rwanda has been illegally extracting Congolese resources" mined under harsh circumstances of coerced employment, involving children.

The United States and numerous nations have voiced apprehension about unauthorized transactions in precious metals in DRC's east, obtained via coerced employment, 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 over 7.8 million people forced from homes in eastern DRC and 28 million experiencing hunger issues, including 4 million at critical stages, according to UN data.

Global Involvement

As the DRC's principal negotiator, Wagner signed the agreement with Rwanda at the US presidential residence in June, which also seeks to give the United States greater access to DRC minerals.

She stated that the US remains engaged in the peace process and rejected suggestions that main concern was the DRC's significant natural resources.

EU Cooperation

The European Commission president, Ursula von der Leyen, inaugurated a conference by declaring that the EU wanted "collaboration based on mutual benefits and honoring independence."

She emphasized the Lobito corridor – rail, road and water transport links – joining the resource-rich areas of the DRC and Zambia to Angola's Atlantic coast.

Wagner recognized that the EU and DRC had a strong foundation in the Lobito project, but "much has been diminished by the conflict in the troubled region."