Rwanda has officially withdrawn from the Economic Community of Central African States (ECCAS), citing political bias and obstruction by the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).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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On 1 July, President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen arrived in Azerbaijan on a working visit.
German prosecutors have arrested a German-Rwandan national on suspicion of aiding genocide and 25 counts of murder during the 1994 Rwandan genocide, authorities said on Wednesday (1 July).
South African police arrested more than 900 people during nationwide anti-migrant protests on Tuesday (30 June), as demonstrations across the country turned violent in some areas, although most remained peaceful.
At least five people have died after a fire swept through a 10-storey apartment building in the Belgian city of Antwerp, authorities said on Wednesday.
Iranian and U.S. negotiating teams were due in Doha this week, but Iran said on Monday no meeting had been scheduled as weekend missile fire from both sides tested the interim ceasefire to end the four-month-old war.
The U.S. and Iran have agreed to 'stand down' and resume technical talks, allowing vessels allowed to move freely under the interim peace deal, a U.S. official said.
Iran has ruled out direct talks with senior U.S. envoys in the Gulf, saying any contact will take place through Qatari mediators. Meanwhile, Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner have met in Doha with Qatar's PM Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al Thani.
The wife and children of Argentine footballer Lucas Trejo were among around 1,700 people who died when two earthquakes struck northern Venezuela last week.
Mexico ended their 40-year wait for a World Cup knockout win, while Erling Haaland sent Norway through and Kylian Mbappé fired France into the last 16.
South African police arrested more than 900 people during nationwide anti-migrant protests on Tuesday (30 June), as demonstrations across the country turned violent in some areas, although most remained peaceful.
German prosecutors have arrested a German-Rwandan national on suspicion of aiding genocide and 25 counts of murder during the 1994 Rwandan genocide, authorities said on Wednesday (1 July).
At least five people have died after a fire swept through a 10-storey apartment building in the Belgian city of Antwerp, authorities said on Wednesday.
Eight Kenyan schoolgirls have pleaded not guilty to murder charges over a dormitory fire that killed 16 fellow students and injured dozens more at a boarding school in the country's Rift Valley region.
Trump travelled to North Dakota on Wednesday to dedicate the new Theodore Roosevelt Presidential Library, using the occasion to promote a message of American greatness as Independence Day celebrations got under way ahead of the nation's 250th anniversary.
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