Congo Denounces EU's Mineral Deal with Rwanda as ‘Evident Contradiction’

The Democratic Republic of Congo has characterized the European Union's continued minerals partnership with Rwanda as demonstrating "clear contradiction" while implementing significantly wider sanctions in response to the Ukraine conflict.

Foreign Minister's Sharp Rebuke

Thérèse Kayikwamba Wagner, the Congo's top diplomat, demanded the EU to implement much stronger restrictions against Rwanda, which has been accused of fueling the unrest in Congo's eastern region.

"It represents clear hypocrisy – I aim to be productive here – that makes us curious and interested about grasping why the EU continues to hesitate so much to implement measures," she declared.

Conflict Resolution Context

The DRC and Rwanda ratified a ceasefire deal in June, facilitated by the America and Qatar, intending to resolve the long-standing conflict.

However, deadly attacks on civilians have continued and a deadline to achieve a comprehensive peace agreement was missed in August.

UN Report

Last year, a United Nations panel reported that up to 4,000 Rwandan troops were fighting alongside the M23 insurgent faction and that the Rwandan military was in "effective direction of M23 operations."

Rwanda has repeatedly rejected backing M23 and claims its forces act in self-defence.

Leadership Call

The DRC president, Félix Tshisekedi, recently appealed to his Rwandan counterpart, Paul Kagame, to end assistance to militants in the DRC during a European gathering featuring both leaders.

"This demands you to order the M23 troops backed by your country to halt this escalation, which has already caused numerous fatalities," the leader emphasized.

EU Sanctions

The EU has imposed restrictions against 32 individuals and two entities – a rebel organization and a Rwandan gold refiner processing contraband materials 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 rejected demands to suspend a 2024 minerals deal with Kigali.

Mineral Issues

Wagner labeled the agreement with Rwanda as "lacking all legitimacy in a context where it has been established that Rwanda has been siphoning off DRC minerals" obtained under harsh circumstances of coerced employment, including children.

The United States and many others have expressed alarm about unauthorized transactions in precious metals in eastern Congo, obtained via compulsory work, then trafficked to Rwanda for shipment to benefit armed groups.

Humanitarian Crisis

The conflict in Congo's east remains one of the world's gravest human catastrophes, with more than 7.8 million people internally displaced in affected areas and 28 million confronting food insecurity, including 4 million at emergency levels, according to UN data.

Global Involvement

As the DRC's principal negotiator, Wagner ratified the agreement with Rwanda at the White House in June, which also aims to give the United States greater access to African wealth.

She stated that the US remains engaged in the diplomatic negotiations and rejected allegations that sole motivation was the DRC's extensive resource deposits.

European Partnership

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

She highlighted the Lobito corridor – rail, road and water transport links – connecting the mining regions of the DRC and Zambia to Angola's Atlantic coast.

Wagner admitted that the EU and DRC had a strong foundation in the Lobito project, but "significant aspects has been diminished by the situation in the troubled region."