Democratic Republic of Congo: Pressure mounts from European Parliament members to terminate mining agreements with Rwanda

Friday, Feb 14, 2025

Il Sole 24 Ore

EU lawmakers demand suspension of a Rwanda-backed critical minerals deal due to conflict and M23 militia involvement in DRC.

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[This is an automatically generated summary, for reference only]

A resolution passed by the European Parliament demands the immediate suspension of a 2024 memorandum of understanding between the EU and Rwanda concerning critical raw material supplies, citing concerns over the conflict on the eastern border of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) involving Rwandan forces and the M23 rebels. While Western partners have criticized Rwanda’s ties to the M23, diplomatic relations remain due to Kagame’s established influence in Brussels and Washington. The EU MoU aimed at diversifying economies through sustainable sourcing of minerals like tantalum, tin, tungsten, lithium, and rare earths, focusing on transparency and traceability. Despite calls from MEP’s for suspension until Rwanda ceases interference in the DRC, the European Commission has not fully backed the agreement, stating it will not support investments in minerals of uncertain origin, though it maintains the MoU provides a political framework for greater transparency essential for the stability of eastern DRC.

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