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The Democratic Republic of Congo has labeled the European Union's ongoing minerals agreement with Rwanda as demonstrating "obvious double standards" while implementing much broader penalties in response to the Ukraine conflict.

Diplomatic Firm Condemnation

Thérèse Kayikwamba Wagner, the African nation's foreign minister, urged the EU to implement significantly tougher restrictions against Rwanda, which has been accused of fueling the violence in DRC's eastern territories.

"This demonstrates obvious hypocrisy – I aim to be productive here – that has us curious and interested about comprehending why the EU continues to hesitate so much to implement measures," she emphasized.

Ceasefire Deal Background

The DRC and Rwanda agreed to a peace agreement in June, mediated by the America and Qatar, designed to conclude the protracted dispute.

However, lethal incidents on ordinary citizens have persisted and a deadline to reach a lasting resolution was missed in August.

International Findings

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

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

Diplomatic Request

The DRC president, Félix Tshisekedi, recently called upon his Rwandan counterpart, Paul Kagame, to cease backing militants in the DRC during a European gathering attended by both leaders.

"This requires you to order the M23 troops assisted by your country to stop this intensification, which has already resulted in sufficient fatalities," the president declared.

European Measures

The EU has imposed restrictions against 32 persons and two organizations – a armed faction and a Rwandan mineral treatment facility processing unauthorized sources of the metal – for their role in intensifying the conflict.

Despite these findings of human rights abuses by the Rwandan army in the DRC, the Brussels administration has rejected demands to suspend a 2024 resource partnership with Kigali.

Economic Implications

Wagner characterized the agreement with Rwanda as "completely untrustworthy in a environment where it has been verified that Rwanda has been siphoning off DRC minerals" mined under severe situations of compulsory work, including children.

The United States and various countries have voiced apprehension about illegal trade in mineral resources in Congo's eastern region, obtained via compulsory work, then smuggled to Rwanda for export to benefit armed groups.

Human Catastrophe

The conflict in eastern DRC remains one of the world's worst humanitarian crises, with more than 7.8 million people internally displaced in the region and 28 million experiencing food insecurity, including 4 million at emergency levels, according to UN assessments.

International Engagement

As the DRC's top representative, Wagner ratified the deal with Rwanda at the American administration in June, which also seeks to give the United States enhanced entry to Congolese natural resources.

She stated that the US remains participating in the peace process and denied claims that main concern was the DRC's vast mineral wealth.

EU Cooperation

The European Commission president, Ursula von der Leyen, opened a conference by emphasizing 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 mineral heartlands of the DRC and Zambia to Angola's western shoreline.

Wagner admitted that the EU and DRC had a strong foundation in the Lobito project, but "a great deal has been eclipsed by the situation in Congo's east."