The Council of the European Union has pushed back against calls to extend EU sanctions to the entire Rwandan Defence Force (RDF), instead defending its targeted approach of restrictive measures against 31 individuals and two entities linked to the conflict in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). In a written answer to a parliamentary question from Rima Hassan (The Left), the Council expressed deep concern over the escalation of the conflict but stopped short of matching the United States' 2 March 2026 decision to sanction the RDF as a whole and four senior officials. The answer also declined to commit to freezing budget support or suspending the EU-Rwanda memorandum of understanding on critical raw materials, noting only that the High Representative announced a review of the MoU on 24 February 2025.
The question, submitted by MEP Hassan, cited the European Parliament's February 2025 resolution calling for stronger sanctions, the freezing of budget support, and suspension of the raw materials MoU. It also referenced the 11 March 2026 killing of French UNICEF employee Karine Buisset by a drone strike in Goma, for which a war crimes investigation has been opened in France. The Council's reply, dated 10 July 2026, outlined three priorities agreed at the 29 January 2026 Foreign Affairs Council: political engagement, humanitarian assistance and advocacy, and peace support. It highlighted the EU's role as the largest humanitarian donor to the region, with €129.5 million allocated in 2025 and an initial €81.5 million announced for 2026.
The Council reiterated its calls for Rwanda to respect DRC territorial integrity and withdraw troops, and welcomed the operationalisation of African Union-mandated mediation. However, it offered no timeline for further sanctions, suspension of the MoU, or budget support freezes, signalling a preference for diplomatic and economic incentives over punitive measures. The answer noted that the EU's restrictive measures were extended on 8 December 2025 for one year, and that the MoU remains under review without a conclusion. The response leaves a gap between the Parliament's demands and the Council's more cautious approach, with no concrete steps announced to accelerate peace processes or address the killing of the humanitarian worker.