Brussels 28.01.2025 Anna van Densky: The European diplomacy hasn’t responded to the sharp criticism of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) President Félix Antoine Tshisekedi, who accused the EU of fueling the “bloody minerals” conflict in the Northern Kivu province.
The strategic minerals deal, mainly focused on coltan imports, which the European Commission concluded on February 19, 2024 with Rwanda, which borders the DRC. For the EU the agreement became an episode illustrating the competition with China for the abundant resources of Central Africa. The agreement became an opportunity to gain access to the elements which are indispensable for the Green agenda goals.
The EU’s critics, including the government of the DRC, and the UN experts, sharply criticized the pact, which camouflaged the smuggling of “blood minerals” out of Eastern Congo (RDC) through Rwanda to Europe. In the report the UN experts accused the EU of playing a decisive role in the war between the DRC troops, and an insurgent rebel group called M23.
After the meeting of the Council of the EU top diplomats this week, the High Representative Kaja Kallas said just a few sentences, reflecting upon the issue of the escalating conflict in the Northern Kivu province. The laconic remarks, which didn’t display any regrets about the role of the EU in the conflict, ravaging African nation.
- Integration of sustainable raw materials value chains and support for economic diversification, ensuring good functioning and sustainability of these value chains.
- Cooperation to achieve sustainable and responsible production and valorisation of critical and strategic raw materials. This includes increased due diligence and traceability, cooperation in fighting against illegal trafficking of raw materials and alignment with international Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) standards. Mobilisation of funding for deployment of infrastructure required for the development of raw material value chains, including through improving the investment climate.
- Research and innovation and sharing of knowledge and technologies related to sustainable exploration, extraction, refining, processing, valorisation and recycling of critical and strategic raw materials, their substitution, waste management and monitoring of supply risks.
The signature of the Memorandum of Understanding between the EU and Rwanda signals both parties’ intention to strengthen their partnership for closer integration of raw materials value chains. This cooperation model will bring the possibility for the partner country to diversify their economy and will be a driver for structural transformation as it will promote added value and integrate better standards in the partner country. The EU’s Global Gateway investment plan will be instrumental in providing the financial support needed in skills development in the mining sector, improved transparency and traceability and support to mobilising funds for infrastructures.
AFRICA DIPLOMATIC 