Rwanda withdraws from Central African bloc over alleged manipulation

Rwanda announced Saturday it is withdrawing from the Economic Community of Central African States (ECCAS), accusing its neighbor, the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), of “instrumentalizing” the bloc with the support of certain member states.

The announcement came at the conclusion of the 26th ordinary summit of the bloc held in Malabo, Equatorial Guinea, attended by Rwandan Prime Minister Edouard Ngirente.

“There is no justification for remaining in an organization whose current functioning runs counter to its founding principles,” the statement read.

“Rwanda deplores the instrumentalisation of the Economic Community of Central African States by the DRC,” began the statement published by the Rwandan government.

“This deviation has come to light once more today in the context of the 26th Summit in Malabo, where Rwanda’s right to the rotational presidency, as laid down in article 6 of the treaty, was deliberately ignored to impose the diktat of the DRC,” the statement read.

While Rwanda was set to take the rotational presidency of the organisation for the coming year during the summit on Saturday, officials from the DRC allegedly claimed that they would be unable to attend a summit taking place in Rwanda.

It also denounced “its illegal exclusion” from the 22nd ordinary summit of ECCAS held in the DRC’s capital Kinshasa in 2023 under the DRC’s presidency, criticizing ECCAS for its “failure to enforce its own rules.”

“Rwanda denounces the violation of its rights,” said the statement. “Consequently, Rwanda sees no justification for remaining in an organization whose current functioning runs counter to its founding principles and intended purpose.”

In the early hours of Sunday, the Presidency of the DRC issued a press release stating that regarding the current security situation in the eastern part of the country, leaders of ECCAS confirmed that the DRC is facing aggression from Rwanda and called on the latter to withdraw its troops from Congolese territory.

The Congolese presidency welcomed the ECCAS decision. In a statement, the office of President Félix Tshisekedi said that the group had “acknowledged the aggression against the Democratic Republic of Congo by Rwanda and ordered the aggressor country to withdraw its troops from Congolese soil.”

On the issue of the rotating presidency of ECCAS, the meeting recommended that Equatorial Guinea continue to hold the rotating chairmanship, with the handover to Rwanda postponed until the dispute between Rwanda and the DRC is resolved.

There was no immediate comment from ECCAS about Kigali’s move.

In light of the tensions between the DRC and Rwanda, the presidency was eventually conferred to Equatorial Guinea, which has already presided over the organisation for the past year.

Tensions between Rwanda and its neighbour DRC are still running high following months of military clashes between DRC forces and the Rwandan-backed M23 militia in eastern Congo.

The DRC accuses Rwanda of supporting M23 rebels fighting in the east, which Kigali denies.

ECCAS was up to now made up of eleven member states, including Angola, Burundi, Cameroon, the Central African Republic, Congo, Gabon, Equatorial Guinea, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Rwanda, Sao Tome and Principe and Chad.

For much of this year, M23 rebels, widely believed to be backed by Rwanda, have mounted a brutal campaign in eastern Congo. They seized control of the region’s two most populous cities, triggering mass displacements and a spiraling death toll. The offensive has reignited fears of a regional war similar to the one that devastated Central Africa in the late 1990s and early 2000s.

Washington and Doha have both stepped in to encourage peace talks, while African leaders have urged a diplomatic resolution. Despite mounting evidence and allegations, Rwanda continues to reject claims that it supports M23. Kigali insists its actions are defensive, citing security threats posed by Congolese forces and remnants of the ethnic Hutu militias tied to the 1994 Rwandan genocide.

The U.S. administration under President Donald Trump is pushing for a peace agreement between Congo and Rwanda, which could unlock substantial Western investments in the mineral-rich region. Congo’s eastern provinces are known for their wealth of resources, including cobalt, gold, copper, tantalum, and lithium, all vital to the global tech and green energy industries.

ECCAS’ Success and Challenges 

ECCAS, established in 1983, was founded to enhance regional cooperation and economic integration among member states, including Angola, Cameroon, Chad, the Central African Republic, and the DRC. The bloc has overseen various infrastructure projects to boost connectivity, including the Fougamou-Doussala-Dolisie highway and the much-anticipated Brazzaville-Kinshasa railroad bridge.

It has also contributed to energy cooperation via the Central Africa Power Pool and championed development in agriculture and youth entrepreneurship. Partnerships with institutions like the African Development Bank and the European Union have injected over $90 million into key programs such as the Special Regional Fund for Agricultural Development and the Regional Youth Entrepreneurship Support Project.

Yet ECCAS continues to face deep-rooted structural challenges. Political instability and armed conflict, such as the one currently engulfing eastern Congo, have obstructed efforts toward economic integration. Rebel-controlled roadblocks, weak infrastructure, and border insecurity routinely disrupt the movement of people and goods across the region.

These disruptions are compounded by a lack of cohesive political will and inadequate funding, which have slowed progress on forming a Central African Common Market, initially envisioned to be in place by 2023. Power struggles, ethnic fragmentation, and under-resourced institutions further complicate these ambitions.

As Rwanda exits the bloc, the future of ECCAS hangs in the balance. The organization’s ability to mediate regional disputes and drive meaningful economic development will likely be tested further in the months ahead.