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The Democratic Republic of Congo has labeled the European Union's persistent minerals deal with Rwanda as demonstrating "clear double standards" while implementing much broader penalties in response to the war in Ukraine.

Government Sharp Rebuke

Thérèse Kayikwamba Wagner, the African nation's international affairs chief, demanded the EU to enact far more severe restrictions against Rwanda, which has been accused of fueling the conflict in DRC's eastern territories.

"It represents clear double standards – I want to be constructive here – that makes us wondering and inquisitive about understanding why the EU again struggles so much to take action," she emphasized.

Peace Agreement Context

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

However, lethal incidents on ordinary citizens have persisted and a target date to reach a final settlement was passed without success in August.

UN Report

Last year, a group of UN experts reported that up to 4,000 Rwandan troops were operating with the M23 rebel group 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 national security.

Leadership Call

The DRC president, Félix Tshisekedi, recently urged his Rwandan counterpart, Paul Kagame, to cease backing armed groups in the DRC during a European gathering including both leaders.

"This necessitates you to command the M23 troops assisted by your country to stop this intensification, which has already led to sufficient deaths," the president declared.

European Measures

The EU has enacted measures targeting 32 people and two entities – a militant group and a Rwandan gold refiner processing illegal supplies of the metal – for their participation in intensifying the conflict.

Despite these conclusions of human rights abuses by the Rwandan army in the DRC, the EU executive has declined demands to terminate a 2024 minerals deal with Kigali.

Economic Implications

Wagner characterized the agreement with Rwanda as "void of any credibility in a environment where it has been verified that Rwanda has been diverting African wealth" obtained under harsh circumstances of forced labour, involving children.

The United States and various countries have raised concerns about unauthorized transactions in gold and tantalum in Congo's eastern region, obtained via coerced employment, then trafficked to Rwanda for shipment to finance rebel organizations.

Humanitarian Crisis

The violence in eastern DRC remains one of the world's gravest humanitarian crises, with more than 7.8 million people relocated within country in eastern DRC and 28 million experiencing nutritional challenges, including 4 million at emergency levels, according to UN reports.

Diplomatic Efforts

As the DRC's top representative, Wagner ratified the accord with Rwanda at the White House in June, which also seeks to give the United States expanded opportunity to Congolese natural resources.

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

European Partnership

The Brussels chief, Ursula von der Leyen, inaugurated a gathering by stating that the EU wanted "collaboration based on common interests and honoring independence."

She highlighted the Lobito corridor – transportation infrastructure 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 "much has been overshadowed by the conflict in the troubled region."