Rwanda quits ECCAS amid tensions with DRC
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Rwanda exits ECCAS over dispute with DRC amid ongoing conflict and leadership row.
Rwanda Quits Central African Bloc Amid Rising Tensions with DRC
Kigali accuses DRC of sabotaging regional cooperation as ECCAS presidency dispute triggers withdrawal.
Rwanda has officially withdrawn from the Economic Community of Central African States (ECCAS) following a growing diplomatic rift with the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), marking a significant shift in regional dynamics.
The announcement came on Saturday, coinciding with the 26th ECCAS Summit held in Malabo, Equatorial Guinea.
Kigali Cites Political Manipulation by DRC
In a strongly worded statement, the Rwandan government accused the DRC of politicizing ECCAS, a regional body established to promote economic integration among Central African nations.
“Rwanda deplores the instrumentalisation of the Economic Community of Central African States by the DRC,” the statement read.
Kigali said the rotational presidency — which was due to be handed to Rwanda — was unfairly denied. According to Article 6 of the ECCAS treaty, the presidency rotates among member states. However, officials from the DRC reportedly objected, saying they would not attend a summit hosted by Rwanda.
As a result, the presidency was once again conferred to Equatorial Guinea, which held the position the previous year — a move Rwanda called a “deliberate imposition.”
Conflict in Eastern Congo Fuels Rift
The diplomatic fallout is closely tied to the ongoing military conflict in eastern DRC, where Congolese forces have been battling the M23 rebel group, which Kinshasa accuses Rwanda of supporting — an allegation Kigali denies.
Tensions have flared repeatedly between the two countries, disrupting both diplomatic ties and regional cooperation.
ECCAS Now Shrinks to Ten Members
With Rwanda’s exit, ECCAS — once a bloc of 11 countries — now comprises 10 member states: Angola, Burundi, Cameroon, the Central African Republic, Congo-Brazzaville, Gabon, Equatorial Guinea, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Sao Tome and Principe, and Chad.
The move is expected to have geopolitical and economic implications for Central Africa, particularly on security coordination and trade efforts within the region.
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