🔗 Share this article Congo Denounces EU's Mineral Deal with Rwanda as ‘Clear Double Standard’ The Central African nation has labeled the European Union's ongoing minerals deal with Rwanda as demonstrating "clear contradiction" while implementing far more extensive penalties in response to the Ukrainian crisis. Government Strong Criticism Thérèse Kayikwamba Wagner, the Congo's foreign minister, urged the EU to implement significantly tougher measures against Rwanda, which has been alleged to exacerbate the conflict in DRC's eastern territories. "This demonstrates clear inconsistency – I want to be productive here – that makes us questioning and concerned about comprehending why the EU again struggles so much to implement measures," she declared. Peace Agreement History The DRC and Rwanda agreed to a ceasefire deal in June, brokered by the America and Qatar, aiming to conclude the decades-old dispute. However, fatal assaults on ordinary citizens have persisted and a time limit to reach a final settlement was missed in August. UN Report Last year, a United Nations panel found that up to 4,000 Rwandan troops were operating with the M23 militant organization and that the Rwandan military was in "de facto control of M23 operations." Rwanda has repeatedly rejected assisting M23 and maintains its forces act in self-protection. Presidential Appeal The DRC president, Félix Tshisekedi, recently urged his Rwandan counterpart, Paul Kagame, to stop supporting rebel forces in the DRC during a European gathering including both leaders. "This requires you to command the M23 troops backed by your country to stop this escalation, which has already caused numerous casualties," the president declared. International Restrictions The EU has imposed restrictions against 32 people and two entities – a militant group and a Rwandan gold refiner handling contraband materials of the metal – for their participation in fuelling the conflict. Despite these conclusions of rights violations by the Rwandan army in the DRC, the EU executive has rejected requests to cancel a 2024 resource partnership with Kigali. Mineral Issues Wagner labeled the memorandum of understanding with Rwanda as "lacking all legitimacy in a environment where it has been verified that Rwanda has been diverting DRC minerals" extracted under brutal conditions of compulsory work, including children. The United States and numerous nations have raised concerns about illegal trade in gold and tantalum in eastern Congo, obtained via compulsory work, then illegally transported to Rwanda for international trade to finance armed groups. Humanitarian Crisis The unrest in eastern DRC remains one of the world's gravest humanitarian crises, with over 7.8 million people relocated within country in the region and 28 million confronting food insecurity, including 4 million at critical stages, according to UN reports. International Engagement As the DRC's chief diplomat, Wagner signed the deal with Rwanda at the American administration in June, which also aims to give the United States enhanced entry to African wealth. She maintained that the US remains participating in the diplomatic negotiations and dismissed claims that sole motivation was the DRC's vast mineral wealth. European Partnership The EU leader, Ursula von der Leyen, inaugurated a summit by declaring that the EU wanted "cooperation based on common interests and honoring independence." She highlighted the Lobito corridor – rail, road and water transport links – linking the mineral heartlands of the DRC and Zambia to Angola's ocean access. Wagner acknowledged that the EU and DRC had a strong foundation in the Lobito project, but "significant aspects has been eclipsed by the conflict in the troubled region."