The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) expects the EU to "provide substance" to the critical raw materials partnership it signed with the bloc in October 2023.
President of the Congolese Senate and former Prime Minister Jean-Michel Sama Lukonde Kyenge made the comment while in Brussels for the Africa-EU Parliamentary Assembly on Thursday.
The EU-DRC Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) "is still awaiting implementation," he said. He criticised the EU's choice to cooperate with "plunderers" in Rwanda rather than with the rightful owner of the minerals.
EU to 'review' Rwanda deal
The EU-Rwanda MoU is not currently being implemented. Kinshasa quickly condemned the agreement as an encouragement of continued plundering of the DRC’s rich eastern resources, including coltan, nickel, cobalt and copper, by M23 rebels supported by Kigali.
Congolese minerals continue to be exploited in areas controlled by the M23 and trafficked to Rwanda, where they are mixed with Rwandan production. The EU has acknowledged this and has sanctioned Rwandan officials accordingly.
Since February, the European Parliament has called for the suspension of the EU-Rwanda MoU. However, the European Commission believes suspending the agreement would be counterproductive and has promised to review it.
Sama Lukonde reiterated that the DRC is rich in mineral resources as well as energy and agricultural potential. The country is open to diversifying its partnerships, including with the United States and China.
Chair of the EU parliamentary delegation Hilde Vautmans (Renew - Belgium) announced an amendment to the budget debates aimed at investing in an African infrastructure fund.
