EU says working with DR Congo on mineral traceability

The European Union is working with DR Congo, which accuses Rwanda of looting its mineral wealth, to improve traceability of the African nation's vast natural resources, the bloc's envoy to Kinshasa said Thursday.

Congolese President Felix Tshisekedi criticised a protocol to a supply deal the EU reached with Rwanda in February as a "provocation".

The neighbouring states have long indulged in a war of words with Kinshasa accusing Kigali of supporting the Tutsi-led M23 rebel group which has seized swathes of eastern DR Congo in an ongoing offensive launched in 2021.

Kigali denies Tshisekedi's claim that it is "hiding" behind the rebel group.

Kinshasa has accused Rwanda of stealing from its mines and regards the accord with Brussels as a form of complicity with the Rwandans.

EU ambassador Nicolas Berlanga Martinez told reporters the bloc "should have better explained" the detail of the agreement with Rwanda and also shown "greater sensitivity" to the Democratic Republic of Congo's perception of it.

But he insisted, "We are working with the Congolese government so that this protocol of understanding with Rwanda, which focuses on transparency and the traceability of minerals, turns in Congo's favour".

This could happen via  recognition of the fact that "mineral certification systems have many flaws", he said.

"Because the first country which must benefit from greater transparency in the minerals market is Congo, which is at the origin of the bulk of these minerals," said Berlanga Martinez.

He noted that last October, ahead of the deal with Rwanda, the EU had signed a strategic partnership on critical raw materials value chains with DR Congo, a move which foresaw the creation within six months of a 'road map' detailing concrete measures to be taken.

The envoy insisted that Brussels "is ready to work" with Kinshasa and said he was looking forward to the appointment of a new government in Kinshasa in the wake of Tshisekedi's re-election four months ago.

M23 rebels reportedly captured the mining town Rubaya in DRC's war-torn North Kivu last week after violent clashes with government forces.

Rubaya's mines hold strategic minerals used in electronics, including cobalt and coltan.