On this day of February 22, 2024, controversial news shakes the European Union (EU) following the conclusion of a partnership on “blood minerals” with Rwanda. This alliance provokes strong reactions, notably from Nobel Peace Prize winner Denis Mukwege, who denounces an unprecedented act of cynicism in matters of geostrategy.
“Blood minerals”, including tin, tungsten, tantalum and gold, often come from conflict regions such as the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), and are associated with armed groups that control their production. production. Rwanda is singled out for its involvement in the plundering of the DRC’s natural resources, as well as in criminal activities documented by the UN.
In 2017, the European Parliament passed legislation aimed at avoiding any links between European supply chains and conflict minerals, particularly those from the Great Lakes region. The recent partnership between the EU and Rwanda therefore seems to go against these established rules.
Denis Mukwege strongly condemns this collaboration, highlighting the paradox between the EU’s values and its concrete actions. As the crisis in the Kivus worsens, particularly with the resurgence of the M23 armed group supported by the Rwandan army, he calls for European citizens to become aware of a change of direction during the next elections.
In this context, the EU justifies this partnership with the aim of creating sustainable and resilient value chains for raw materials, covering the entire production cycle. However, criticism persists regarding the real impact on the ground, and the compatibility of this approach with the Union’s values and international commitments.
Thus, this alliance on blood minerals between the EU and Rwanda raises major ethical and political questions, highlighting the concrete challenges that Europe faces in its foreign policy and its commitment to human rights.
To find out more on this subject, find the following articles already published on our blog:
– [Title of article 1](article 1 link)
– [Title of article 2](article 2 link)
– [Title of article 3](article 3 link)
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