Congo Denounces EU's Rwanda Mining Partnership as ‘Evident Contradiction’

The DRC has described the European Union's ongoing minerals deal with Rwanda as showing "obvious contradiction" while enforcing much broader penalties in response to the war in Ukraine.

Foreign Minister's Firm Condemnation

Thérèse Kayikwamba Wagner, the African nation's foreign minister, demanded the EU to enact much stronger measures against Rwanda, which has been charged with intensifying the conflict in Congo's eastern region.

"This shows obvious inconsistency – I want to be constructive here – that has us curious and inquisitive about grasping why the EU again struggles so much to take action," she declared.

Peace Agreement Background

The DRC and Rwanda ratified a peace agreement in June, facilitated by the United States and Qatar, intending to end the decades-old conflict.

However, fatal assaults on non-combatants have continued and a target date to reach a comprehensive peace agreement was not met in August.

Expert Assessment

Last year, a international assessment team stated that up to 4,000 Rwandan troops were fighting alongside the M23 rebel group and that the Rwandan military was in "effective direction of M23 operations."

Rwanda has consistently denied supporting M23 and claims its forces act in self-defence.

Presidential Appeal

The DRC president, Félix Tshisekedi, recently urged his Rwandan counterpart, Paul Kagame, to stop supporting armed groups in the DRC during a Brussels event including both leaders.

"This requires you to command the M23 troops supported by your country to end this escalation, which has already led to enough casualties," the president declared.

European Measures

The EU has enacted measures targeting 32 individuals and two entities – a rebel organization and a Rwandan mineral treatment facility processing contraband materials of the metal – for their participation in intensifying the conflict.

Despite these determinations of international law breaches by the Rwandan army in the DRC, the Brussels administration has declined calls to cancel a 2024 resource partnership with Kigali.

Mineral Issues

Wagner labeled the agreement with Rwanda as "lacking all legitimacy in a environment where it has been established that Rwanda has been illegally extracting Congolese resources" mined under harsh circumstances of forced labour, including children.

The United States and numerous nations have expressed alarm about illicit commerce in precious metals in DRC's east, obtained via compulsory work, then trafficked to Rwanda for export to finance militant factions.

Regional Emergency

The unrest in DRC's eastern territories remains one of the world's worst humanitarian crises, with over 7.8 million people forced from homes in eastern DRC and 28 million experiencing nutritional challenges, including 4 million at emergency levels, according to UN data.

International Engagement

As the DRC's top representative, Wagner approved the deal with Rwanda at the American administration in June, which also aims to give the United States greater access to DRC minerals.

She maintained that the US remains involved in the diplomatic negotiations and denied allegations that primary interest was the DRC's significant natural resources.

European Partnership

The EU leader, Ursula von der Leyen, inaugurated a gathering by emphasizing that the EU wanted "partnerships based on mutual benefits and acknowledging autonomy."

She emphasized the Lobito corridor – multi-modal transport links – joining the resource-rich areas of the DRC and Zambia to Angola's western shoreline.

Wagner recognized that the EU and DRC had a solid basis in the Lobito project, but "much has been eclipsed by the conflict in eastern DRC."