Rwanda has announced on June 7 its withdrawal from the Economic Community of Central African States (Eccas) after being blocked from assuming the rotating chairmanship role,a move the country says was influenced by pressure from the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).
The decision follows a tense summit in Equatorial Guinea where Eccas leaders accused Rwanda of aggression in eastern DRC and ordered its troops to withdraw,sidelining Rwanda from leading the bloc. Rwanda condemned the decision as a violation of the bloc’s founding principles,stating it no longer saw a reason to remain in an organization that undermines its rights.
The dispute arises amidst ongoing peace efforts,with US-mediated talks aiming to end the conflict in eastern DRC,where Rwanda has been accused of supporting the M23 rebel group. Despite repeated denials from Rwanda,international actors including the UN,the DRC government,the US,and France have linked Rwanda to backing the rebels who captured key cities earlier this year. The Eccas summit’s resolution to maintain Equatorial Guinea’s chairmanship until the conflict is resolved further highlights the deepening regional tensions and mistrust.
This is not Rwanda’s first departure from Eccas; it previously left the bloc in 2007 but rejoined years later. The current exit signals a significant setback for regional cooperation efforts in Central Africa,raising concerns about the future of integration and collective security amid persistent conflicts and political disagreements within the region.
United News - unews.co.za