The authorities in Kinshasa are holding ‘warmongering’ Rwanda responsible for the deaths of thousands of civilians in the ongoing unrest in the east of the DR Congo.
In an interview with Sky News, the Democratic Republic of Congo’s Foreign Minister accused Rwanda of illegally exploiting Congolese minerals and providing military support to the M23 rebel group.
She urged the European Union to suspend its agreement with Kigali and welcomed the United Kingdom’s shift in stance on the regional conflict.
Thérèse Kayikwamba Wagner, State Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs of the DRC, called for the suspension of the memorandum of understanding on rare earth minerals signed last year between the EU and Rwanda, denouncing the agreement as one that effectively “funds a warmongering regime in the region.”
In her interview, the Congolese diplomat criticised Rwanda’s “dual agenda”: the economic exploitation of Congolese resources—whereby her country’s minerals are “transported and exported as Rwandan minerals”—and Kigali’s military backing for the M23 rebel group.
“The Rwandan government has effectively become the spokesperson for the M23, a group that has repeatedly declared its intent to overthrow the legitimate government of the DRC in Kinshasa,” the minister asserted, accusing Kigali of falsely portraying the rebels as acting “selflessly in the interest of minority communities.”
Pressure on the EU
The minister stressed the need for the EU to suspend its agreement with Rwanda “until there is greater transparency in the supply chain.” “It is neither in the EU’s interest nor that of European taxpayers to fund a regime responsible for the deaths of thousands of civilians and the displacement of millions more,” she stated.
Thérèse Kayikwamba Wagner welcomed the UK’s shift in stance, noting that after having remained “very silent on Rwanda’s role, particularly at the UN Security Council,” London had, since December, adopted a “much firmer, more transparent position” and now “clearly condemns Rwanda’s actions.”
However, she lamented that despite the UK’s “strong diplomatic pressure on Rwanda,” as confirmed by the British government, this had not prevented “President Kagame from unleashing terror on the city of Goma.”
The minister called for “stronger and more rapid actions,” emphasising that the Rwandan president “does not respond to condemnation, statements, or even phone calls from his most powerful allies and partners.”
AC/lb/as/APA