KIGALI, Rwanda — Rwanda has announced its withdrawal from the Economic Community of Central African States (ECCAS), a regional bloc, following a significant diplomatic dispute over its alleged involvement in the conflict in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).
Rwanda was scheduled to assume the rotating chairmanship of ECCAS, an organization comprising 11 member states. However, it was prevented from taking on this role at a summit held Saturday in Equatorial Guinea.
In announcing its decision to leave ECCAS, Rwanda stated that its right to take up the “chairmanship… was deliberately ignored in order to impose the DRC’s diktat.”
Consequently, it “sees no justification for remaining in an organisation whose current functioning runs counter to its founding principles and intended purpose.”
This diplomatic fallout occurs as efforts to resolve the ongoing conflict in eastern DR Congo continue. A draft peace plan, mediated by the U.S., is currently being developed between Rwanda and the DRC, with an anticipated signing later this month.
According to a statement released by the Congolese presidency, ECCAS leaders at the summit “acknowledged the aggression against the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) by Rwanda and ordered the aggressor country to withdraw its troops from Congolese soil.”
The statement further noted that, pending the resolution of the dispute, Equatorial Guinea would remain in the chairman role “to the detriment of Rwanda.”
Congolese government spokesperson Patrick Muyaya commented on the situation, directing his remarks towards Rwanda: “one cannot continually and voluntarily violate the principles that underpin our regional institutions and claim to want to preside over them.”
He added that the ECCAS decision “should inspire other regional organisations to adopt a firmer stance against Rwanda.”
Rwanda has faced accusations of providing support to M23 rebels in eastern DR Congo. The rebel group achieved significant territorial gains earlier this year, capturing key regional cities including Goma and Bukavu.
Both the DRC government, as well as the U.S. and France, have directly identified Rwanda as backing the M23.
Last year, a United Nations experts’ report claimed that up to 4,000 Rwandan troops were actively fighting alongside the rebels. However, Rwanda has consistently denied these accusations, asserting instead that its troops are deployed along its border solely to prevent the conflict from spilling into its territory.
This is not the first time Rwanda has exited ECCAS, an organization dedicated to fostering cooperation and strengthening regional integration in central Africa. Rwanda previously withdrew from the bloc in 2007 before rejoining several years later.
