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The DRC has labeled the European Union's ongoing minerals partnership with Rwanda as exhibiting "obvious hypocrisy" while enforcing significantly wider penalties in response to the war in Ukraine.

Diplomatic Firm Condemnation

Thérèse Kayikwamba Wagner, the African nation's international affairs chief, demanded the EU to implement far more severe restrictions against Rwanda, which has been accused of fueling the unrest in Congo's eastern region.

"This demonstrates obvious double standards – I want to be constructive here – that makes us curious and concerned about grasping why the EU repeatedly finds it difficult so much to implement measures," she declared.

Conflict Resolution Context

The DRC and Rwanda signed a conflict resolution in June, brokered by the America and Qatar, designed to resolve the protracted dispute.

However, fatal assaults on civilians have persisted and a deadline to achieve a final settlement was not met in August.

UN Report

Last year, a group of UN experts stated that up to 4,000 Rwandan troops were supporting the M23 militant organization and that the Rwandan military was in "de facto control of M23 operations."

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

Presidential Appeal

The DRC president, Félix Tshisekedi, recently urged his Rwandan counterpart, Paul Kagame, to cease backing militants in the DRC during a Brussels event attended by both leaders.

"This demands you to instruct the M23 troops backed by your country to halt this intensification, which has already resulted in sufficient deaths," Tshisekedi stated.

EU Sanctions

The EU has imposed restrictions against 32 people and two organizations – a rebel organization and a Rwandan mineral treatment facility processing illegal supplies 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 EU executive has resisted demands to suspend a 2024 mining agreement with Kigali.

Economic Implications

Wagner characterized the memorandum of understanding with Rwanda as "lacking all legitimacy in a context where it has been confirmed that Rwanda has been siphoning off Congolese resources" mined under severe situations of forced labour, including children.

The United States and various countries have raised concerns about illicit commerce in gold and tantalum in eastern Congo, extracted via compulsory work, then trafficked to Rwanda for international trade to finance armed groups.

Human Catastrophe

The conflict in DRC's eastern territories remains one of the world's most severe humanitarian crises, with more than 7.8 million people relocated within country in eastern DRC and 28 million experiencing hunger issues, including 4 million at crisis conditions, according to UN data.

Diplomatic Efforts

As the DRC's chief diplomat, Wagner ratified the deal with Rwanda at the White House in June, which also seeks to give the United States enhanced entry to Congolese natural resources.

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

EU Cooperation

The European Commission president, Ursula von der Leyen, commenced a gathering by stating that the EU wanted "cooperation based on mutual benefits and respect for sovereignty."

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

Wagner admitted that the EU and DRC had a firm groundwork in the Lobito project, but "a great deal has been eclipsed by the conflict in the troubled region."