EU’s silence on Congo-Rwanda conflict becoming deafening

Ahead of Thursday’s vote on the resolution, MEPs today debate the recent escalation of violence in the East of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). This conflict is linked to a longstanding strategic fight over access to minerals in the region, involving the Rwandan army and rebel groups, such as M23, supported by Rwanda. The Greens/EFA Group calls for all civilians to be protected and, as a leverage to restore peace and territorial integrity of the DRC, the suspension of EU military assistance as well as EU trade and cooperation with Rwanda, namely on critical raw materials.

Greens/EFA MEP Sara Matthieu from Belgium, shadow rapporteur on the resolution on Congo, comments:

"The humanitarian catastrophe continues, the European Union's silence becomes deafening. The EU-Rwanda strategic partnership on sustainable raw materials value chains was indefensible from the start and cannot stand while blood is being shed in Eastern Congo and minerals are illegally smuggled into Rwanda. Our economic interests and deals in critical minerals are stained with the suffering of innocent civilians.

“The EU must immediately put in place a trade embargo on minerals from Rwanda and suspend its cooperation on critical raw materials with Rwanda until every single soldier and rebel group supported by Rwanda leave Congolese soil. Rwanda must put in place measures to ensure full transparency in the supply chains of minerals exported from Rwanda, to ensure that their origin is fully traceable

“Consumers don't want their smartphones and laptops tainted with conflict minerals. The screams of displaced families and victims of atrocities must echo louder than the sound of profit."