The relations between Rwanda and the DRC, dating back to the Belgian colonial era, are marked by ethnic and political tensions. After the independence in the 1960s, these tensions intensified with the migration of Rwandan Tutsis to the DRC. Armed conflicts and political manipulations under Mobutu Sese Seko and Juvénal Habyarimana worsened the situation. Since the 1990s, humanitarian crises and conflicts in the region have made these relations even more complex.[1]

European Union Declaration

The Ambassador of the European Union in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Nicolás Berlanga-Martinez, the European Union Ambassador in Kinshasa, acknowledged during an intervention on the German channel Deutsche Welle that the majority of minerals exported by Rwanda are of Congolese origin. "All independent reports show that at least 80% of the minerals exported by Rwanda are of Congolese origin," he stated.[2]

Context of tensions between the DRC and Rwanda

At the beginning of February this year, tensions erupted in the DRC after the European Union signed a memorandum of understanding on sustainable value chains for raw materials with Rwanda. This situation is seen as worsening the crisis in the eastern DRC. President Félix Tshisekedi believes that this agreement encourages Rwanda to plunder Congolese resources. Until the European Union Ambassador clarifies the statements.[3]

Clarification on Memorandums of Understanding

Nicolas Berlanga, responding to questions from DW Africa, clarified the controversial subject following the meeting of the European diplomats' delegation with President Félix Tshisekedi. "The European Union regularly signs memorandums of understanding with several African, Asian, or Latin American countries, similar to the one signed with Rwanda. In October 2023, a similar protocol was signed with the DRC," he specified.[4]

Differences between the protocols with the DRC and Rwanda

With the DRC, a strategic partner, the protocol was much more ambitious: it encompassed extraction, transformation, value chain, transparency, and traceability. In contrast, the protocol with Rwanda mainly focuses on traceability and transparency.[5]

Timing issues and perceptions of tensions

According to Berlanga, the tensions in Kinshasa stem from the fact that the protocol with Rwanda was signed while conflicts persisted in the eastern DRC, raising questions about the timing of the agreement. He emphasized that a memorandum of understanding is not a legal commitment, but a declaration of intent to establish a roadmap with concrete projects.[6]

Development of distinct roadmaps

"With the DRC, a detailed roadmap is awaiting validation by the new government, while with Rwanda, we are still preparing the roadmap, focusing mainly on transparency and traceability of minerals," he added.[7]

Confirmation of the origins of minerals exported by Rwanda

"All independent reports show that at least 80 percent of the minerals exported by Rwanda are of Congolese origin," acknowledged Nicolas Berlanga, the European Union ambassador to the DRC. This situation reflects the problem of the plundering of Congolese resources by Rwanda, exacerbating tensions between the two countries and complicating the international regulation of conflict minerals.[8]