Rwanda quits Central African bloc over Congo tensions

Rwanda has officially withdrawn from the Economic Community of Central African States (ECCAS), citing political bias and obstruction by the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).

In a statement Saturday, Rwanda’s Foreign Ministry said its right to assume ECCAS’s rotating presidency was deliberately denied, a move it blamed on the DRC with support from other member states. The row stems from Rwanda’s exclusion from the 2023 ECCAS summit in Kinshasa, hosted under Congo’s chairmanship.

Kigali said it no longer sees value in staying in a bloc that “functions contrary to its own principles.”

The announcement came at the close of the 26th ECCAS summit in Malabo, Equatorial Guinea. Plans to transfer the chair from Equatorial Guinea to Rwanda were reportedly blocked by Congo, leading to a postponement of the appointment.

The dispute reflects deepening tensions between Rwanda and Congo over the ongoing conflict in eastern Congo. Kinshasa accuses Kigali of backing the M23 rebel group — a claim Rwanda denies. ECCAS has previously called for the immediate withdrawal of Rwandan troops from Congolese territory.

Rwandan Prime Minister Edouard Ngirente represented his country at the Malabo summit. Attempts to ease tensions between the two countries during closed-door talks on the sidelines were unsuccessful.

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