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The Central African nation has described the European Union's continued minerals deal with Rwanda as exhibiting "evident hypocrisy" while implementing much broader sanctions in response to the Ukrainian crisis.

Diplomatic Strong Criticism

Thérèse Kayikwamba Wagner, the African nation's international affairs chief, called for the EU to impose much stronger sanctions against Rwanda, which has been charged with intensifying the conflict in DRC's eastern territories.

"This demonstrates clear double standards – I aim to be constructive here – that makes us curious and concerned about understanding why the EU again struggles so much to implement measures," she stated.

Peace Agreement History

The DRC and Rwanda ratified a ceasefire deal in June, mediated by the United States and Qatar, aiming to resolve the protracted dispute.

However, deadly attacks on ordinary citizens have continued and a time limit to establish a lasting resolution was not met in August.

Expert Assessment

Last year, a United Nations panel found that up to 4,000 Rwandan troops were supporting the M23 rebel group and that the Rwandan military was in "de facto control of M23 operations."

Rwanda has continually refuted supporting M23 and maintains its forces act in national security.

Leadership Call

The DRC president, Félix Tshisekedi, recently urged his Rwandan counterpart, Paul Kagame, to end assistance to rebel forces in the DRC during a European gathering including both leaders.

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

European Measures

The EU has enacted measures targeting 32 people and two entities – a armed faction and a Rwandan gold refiner handling contraband materials of the metal – for their role in prolonging the conflict.

Despite these findings of human rights abuses by the Rwandan army in the DRC, the European Commission has declined requests to terminate a 2024 mining agreement with Kigali.

Resource Concerns

Wagner characterized the partnership with Rwanda as "completely untrustworthy in a context where it has been confirmed that Rwanda has been diverting DRC minerals" extracted under severe situations of compulsory work, including children.

The United States and numerous nations have voiced apprehension about illegal trade in precious metals in DRC's east, extracted via compulsory work, then illegally transported to Rwanda for international trade to finance militant factions.

Human Catastrophe

The unrest in Congo's east remains one of the world's worst human catastrophes, with exceeding 7.8 million people internally displaced in affected areas and 28 million confronting hunger issues, including 4 million at emergency levels, according to UN reports.

International Engagement

As the DRC's chief diplomat, Wagner approved the accord with Rwanda at the US presidential residence in June, which also aims to give the United States expanded opportunity to DRC minerals.

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

European Partnership

The Brussels chief, Ursula von der Leyen, commenced a conference by declaring that the EU wanted "collaboration based on shared objectives and respect for sovereignty."

She highlighted 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 acknowledged that the EU and DRC had a firm groundwork in the Lobito project, but "a great deal has been eclipsed by the situation in Congo's east."