KIGALI — Rwanda has withdrawn from a major Central African regional bloc following a tense diplomatic standoff over its alleged role in the conflict in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DR Congo).
The decision, announced late Sunday, came after the Economic Community of Central African States (Eccas) blocked Rwanda from assuming the bloc’s rotating chairmanship a position it was scheduled to take up this year.
In a strongly worded statement, Kigali said its rightful claim to the chair had been “deliberately ignored in order to impose the DRC’s diktat.” The government added it saw “no justification for remaining in an organisation whose current functioning runs counter to its founding principles and intended purpose.”
The move marks a sharp escalation in tensions between the two neighbours, already strained by accusations that Rwanda is backing M23 rebels operating in eastern DR Congo a claim Kigali has repeatedly denied.
At a weekend summit in Equatorial Guinea, Eccas leaders instead voted to extend the chairmanship of Equatorial Guinea. A statement from DR Congo’s presidency said the decision followed a broad agreement among member states that Rwanda had committed acts of aggression against the country.
“The summit acknowledged the aggression against the Democratic Republic of Congo by Rwanda and ordered the aggressor country to withdraw its troops from Congolese soil,” the statement read.
Rwanda was not given a chance to respond during the meeting, according to a Rwandan government official speaking on background.
In a press briefing in Kinshasa, Congolese government spokesman Patrick Muyaya was blunt: “You cannot violate the rules that bind our community and then expect to lead it. That’s not how it works.”
Muyaya also called on other African regional blocs to take a firmer stance against Rwanda, accusing Kigali of destabilising the region.
Tensions Deepen Despite Peace Talks
This fallout comes even as Rwanda and DR Congo are said to be negotiating a draft peace deal, brokered with support from the United States. Talks are reportedly ongoing, with a signing expected later this month, though observers say trust is in short supply.
Rwanda’s withdrawal from Eccas is not unprecedented. The country exited the bloc in 2007 over concerns about its effectiveness, only to rejoin a few years later as regional cooperation efforts picked up pace.
Now, that cooperation is fraying again.
The M23 rebellion long dormant until resurfacing in 2021 has gained ground in recent months, capturing key towns near Goma and causing mass displacement. The United Nations, the United States, and France have all accused Rwanda of backing the rebels.
A UN panel last year estimated that up to 4,000 Rwandan troops were operating in DR Congo, a claim Kigali denies. The Rwandan government insists its forces are stationed along the border to prevent violence spilling into its territory.
Still, Rwanda’s critics argue its influence in eastern DR Congo goes far beyond border security.
For now, Eccas continues without Rwanda. And with regional diplomacy strained, peace in eastern Congo seems as elusive as ever.
