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The Democratic Republic of Congo has labeled the European Union's persistent minerals partnership with Rwanda as demonstrating "clear double standards" while implementing far more extensive sanctions in response to the Ukrainian crisis.

Government Strong Criticism

Thérèse Kayikwamba Wagner, the DRC's top diplomat, demanded the EU to enact far more severe sanctions against Rwanda, which has been charged with intensifying the violence in DRC's eastern territories.

"This shows obvious inconsistency – I strive to be constructive here – that makes us wondering and interested about comprehending why the EU repeatedly finds it difficult so much to take action," she stated.

Peace Agreement History

The DRC and Rwanda signed a conflict resolution in June, facilitated by the America and Qatar, designed to resolve the decades-old conflict.

However, lethal incidents on non-combatants have continued and a target date to reach a lasting resolution was not met in August.

Expert Assessment

Last year, a group of UN experts stated that up to 4,000 Rwandan troops were fighting alongside the M23 insurgent faction and that the Rwandan military was in "actual command of M23 operations."

Rwanda has continually refuted backing 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 militants in the DRC during a Brussels event attended by both leaders.

"This necessitates you to command the M23 troops backed by your country to end this escalation, which has already led to sufficient casualties," the leader emphasized.

International Restrictions

The EU has imposed restrictions against 32 people and two organizations – a rebel organization and a Rwandan mineral treatment facility handling contraband materials of the metal – for their involvement in prolonging the conflict.

Despite these determinations of rights violations by the Rwandan army in the DRC, the Brussels administration has rejected demands to terminate a 2024 mining agreement with Kigali.

Economic Implications

Wagner characterized the partnership with Rwanda as "void of any credibility in a situation where it has been verified that Rwanda has been diverting Congolese resources" mined under harsh circumstances of coerced employment, including children.

The United States and many others have raised concerns about illegal trade in gold and tantalum in DRC's east, extracted via compulsory work, then smuggled to Rwanda for international trade to support armed groups.

Humanitarian Crisis

The unrest in Congo's east remains one of the world's gravest human catastrophes, with over 7.8 million people internally displaced in the region and 28 million confronting hunger issues, including 4 million at crisis conditions, according to UN assessments.

International Engagement

As the DRC's top representative, Wagner ratified the agreement with Rwanda at the US presidential residence in June, which also attempts to give the United States greater access to DRC minerals.

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

European Partnership

The Brussels chief, Ursula von der Leyen, inaugurated a gathering by emphasizing that the EU wanted "cooperation based on mutual benefits and honoring independence."

She emphasized the Lobito corridor – multi-modal transport links – connecting the mineral heartlands of the DRC and Zambia to Angola's Atlantic coast.

Wagner admitted that the EU and DRC had a solid basis in the Lobito project, but "a great deal has been diminished by the situation in eastern DRC."