EU Parliament Urges Suspension of EU-Rwanda Raw Materials Deal Over DRC Interference

The European Parliament, on February 13, in Strasbourg, France, called for the immediate suspension of the EU-Rwanda Memorandum of Understanding on Sustainable Raw Materials Value Chains. The resolution demands this suspension until Rwanda ceases interference in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), including the export of minerals from M23 rebel-controlled areas. Members of the European Parliament (MEPs) also requested EU member states and international financial institutions to freeze direct budget support to Rwanda until it allows humanitarian access to the crisis zone and cuts ties with the M23. The EU Parliament also wants the EU to cease military and security assistance to Rwandan armed forces to avoid contributing to military operations in Eastern DRC. While denouncing human rights violations and attacks on UN forces in the DRC, the Parliament expressed support for peace negotiations and called for the resumption of humanitarian operations.