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The Democratic Republic of Congo has labeled the European Union's continued minerals agreement with Rwanda as showing "clear double standards" while enforcing far more extensive penalties in response to the war in Ukraine.

Diplomatic Strong Criticism

Thérèse Kayikwamba Wagner, the Congo's top diplomat, called for the EU to impose significantly tougher restrictions against Rwanda, which has been alleged to exacerbate the unrest in eastern DRC.

"This demonstrates evident double standards – I want to be productive here – that has us wondering and inquisitive about grasping why the EU repeatedly finds it difficult so much to take action," she declared.

Peace Agreement Context

The DRC and Rwanda agreed to a peace agreement in June, mediated by the America and Qatar, designed to end the decades-old hostilities.

However, lethal incidents on civilians have endured and a target date to establish a final settlement was not met in August.

International Findings

Last year, a United Nations panel stated that up to 4,000 Rwandan troops were operating with the M23 rebel group and that the Rwandan military was in "effective direction of M23 operations."

Rwanda has continually refuted assisting M23 and maintains its forces act in self-defence.

Leadership Call

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

"This necessitates you to order the M23 troops assisted by your country to halt this escalation, which has already led to sufficient fatalities," the president declared.

International Restrictions

The EU has imposed restrictions against 32 individuals and two organizations – a rebel organization and a Rwandan precious metals processor handling unauthorized sources of the metal – for their involvement in fuelling the conflict.

Despite these findings of rights violations by the Rwandan army in the DRC, the Brussels administration has rejected calls to suspend a 2024 minerals deal with Kigali.

Economic Implications

Wagner described the memorandum of understanding with Rwanda as "completely untrustworthy in a environment where it has been verified that Rwanda has been diverting DRC minerals" mined under severe situations of coerced employment, involving children.

The United States and many others have expressed alarm about illicit commerce in mineral resources in Congo's eastern region, obtained via compulsory work, then illegally transported to Rwanda for shipment to finance rebel organizations.

Regional Emergency

The conflict in DRC's eastern territories remains one of the world's most severe emergency situations, with more than 7.8 million people forced from homes in affected areas and 28 million experiencing food insecurity, including 4 million at critical stages, according to UN reports.

International Engagement

As the DRC's principal negotiator, Wagner signed the deal with Rwanda at the US presidential residence in June, which also attempts to give the United States expanded opportunity to African wealth.

She stated that the US remains engaged in the peace process and rejected claims that sole motivation was the DRC's significant natural resources.

European Partnership

The Brussels chief, Ursula von der Leyen, commenced a gathering by emphasizing that the EU wanted "partnerships based on common interests and acknowledging autonomy."

She featured the Lobito corridor – transportation infrastructure transport links – connecting the mineral heartlands of the DRC and Zambia to Angola's western shoreline.

Wagner admitted that the EU and DRC had a solid basis in the Lobito project, but "much has been diminished by the conflict in Congo's east."