African state quits regional bloc over DR Congo dispute
Rwanda has announced its withdrawal from the Economic Community of Central African States (ECCAS) as tensions rise over its alleged role in the conflict in the east of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DR Congo).
The move followed an ECCAS summit held on Saturday, during which Equatorial Guinea was retained as the bloc's chair. Rwanda had expected to assume the rotating leadership position.
Rwanda's Foreign Ministry said the 11-member bloc 'deliberately ignored' Kigali's right to the presidency in order to impose the DR Congo's diktat. The statement also condemned the 'instrumentalization' of ECCAS by the Congolese government.
'Rwanda denounces the violation of its rights as guaranteed by the constitutive texts of ECCAS. Consequently, Rwanda sees no justification for remaining in an organization whose current functioning runs counter to its founding principles and intended purpose,' the ministry said in a statement on Saturday.
Kigali said it had previously protested its exclusion from an ECCAS meeting in 2023, which was held in DR Congo's capital, Kinshasa. It criticized both the African Union and the ECCAS leadership for failing to uphold internal rules and procedures.
'The silence and inaction that followed confirm the organization's failure to enforce its own rules,' it stated.
Tensions between Kigali and Kinshasa have escalated since the M23 rebels intensified their offensive in DR Congo's eastern provinces earlier this year. The militants have seized major cities, including Goma and Bukavu, reportedly killing thousands of people.
Congolese authorities have long accused the Rwandan government of supporting the rebels with troops and weapons – a claim backed by a UN panel of experts. Kigali has repeatedly denied the allegations, insisting its forces are only securing its borders.
The accusations have also strained Rwanda's relations with some of its Western partners, including its former colonial metropole, Belgium. In March, Kigali severed diplomatic ties with Brussels and ordered Belgian diplomats to leave the country within 48 hours, accusing the country of harboring 'neo-colonial delusions' and interfering in the conflict in DR Congo's mineral-rich east.
On Saturday, the office of Congolese President Felix Tshisekedi issued a statement saying that ECCAS leaders had 'acknowledged the aggression against the Democratic Republic of Congo by Rwanda' and called on the 'aggressor country' to withdraw its troops from Congolese soil.
'The summit recommended that Equatorial Guinea (outgoing) retain the leadership of the organization, to the detriment of Rwanda, until the resolution of its dispute with the DRC,' it stated.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Russia Today
a day ago
- Russia Today
African state calls for global financial reform
Mozambique has expressed its readiness to work with Russia in building a new global financial architecture that supports economic development in Mozambique and across Africa. The statement was made by Mozambique's minister of planning and development, Salim Vala, during the 'Business dialogue Russia-Africa' panel discussion at the 28th St. Petersburg International Economic Forum (SPIEF) on Thursday. Vala noted that while Mozambique holds substantial reserves of natural gas, rubies, gold, and coal, its most valuable asset remains its people. He highlighted the importance of unlocking the country's full economic potential to improve the well-being of its 33.4 million citizens. 'We have a 20-year strategy,' Vala stated, explaining that Mozambique does not want to rely solely on oil and gas. Instead, the focus is on modernizing agriculture and advancing industrialization. 'We must work together with Russia, with other African countries, and with other developing nations to create a new financial architecture, to develop enterprises and the private sector.' Vala called for a shift in global perception, proposing a new narrative of 'an Africa that is more educated, healthier, an Africa with the human capital and technologies that can ensure prosperity for its people.' He added that cooperation with Russia and other African partners is essential for developing both social and economic infrastructure, which can in turn attract greater investment, generate employment, and reduce poverty and inequality. Earlier in June, Eugenio Alberto Macumbe, the head of the Digital Governance Division at Mozambique's Information and Communication Technology Regulatory Authority, also underscored the value of Russian engagement in development initiatives. Speaking to RT, he said Mozambique is actively pursuing digital transformation and artificial intelligence strategies, and stressed the importance of learning from countries like Russia, which he said is 'very advanced in this process.' At the 12th edition of the Mozambique Technology Fair in May, Vala highlighted the crucial role of information and communication technology in the nation's development.
Russia Today
a day ago
- Russia Today
Putin comments on Russia–South Africa relations
Russian President Vladimir Putin has highlighted Moscow's deepening relationship with Pretoria during talks with South African Vice President Paul Mashatile, describing it as a 'comprehensive strategic partnership' built on equality and mutual respect. The two leaders met on the sidelines of the 28th St. Petersburg International Economic Forum (SPIEF) on Thursday. 'Relations between Russia and South Africa are developing successfully. We are in regular contact with President of South Africa Cyril Ramaphosa. Last year, we held detailed discussions with him in Kazan during the BRICS Summit, outlining steps for further cooperation,' Putin said. Pretoria and Moscow have maintained diplomatic relations since 1992, with longstanding cooperation in several areas including trade and education. During an earlier meeting with Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin in Moscow on Wednesday, the South African Vice President expressed Pretoria's ambition to see trade with Moscow double. He also invited Russian companies to invest in South Africa, describing it as 'the gateway to the continent of Africa,' offering access to a market of over one billion people. Mashatile told President Putin on Thursday that he had been tasked by South African President Cyril Ramaphosa to transform the 'strong foundation' of strategic relations into expanded trade and economic cooperation for the mutual benefit of the two BRICS nations. 'South Africa continues to call on the support of Russia's influence within the Eurasian Economic Union to reconsider South Africa from an undeveloped to a developing country. This had a significant impact on South African products and trade to the Eurasian market,' he stated. Putin pledged to expand and diversify mutual trade and investment with South Africa, noting that bilateral trade grew by approximately 2% in 2024. 'Overall, strengthening ties with African nations remains one of our key priorities,' the President reiterated. The Russian president underscored education as a priority sector in engagement with African nations, citing Moscow's longstanding commitment to academic exchange. He noted that more than 40 Russian universities have established partnerships with South African institutions, and that around 570 South African students are currently studying at Russian universities.
Russia Today
2 days ago
- Russia Today
Russia welcomes African state as new BRICS partner
Russia welcomes Uganda as a BRICS partner country, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said on Wednesday during talks with his Ugandan counterpart, Jeje Odongo, in Moscow. Lavrov added that Moscow looks forward to engaging with Kampala within the framework of BRICS. 'We welcome Uganda as a BRICS partner country ... We look forward to active cooperation with our Ugandan friends in this new format,' Lavrov said. BRICS was established in 2009 by Brazil, Russia, India, and China, with South Africa joining two years later. In 2024, the bloc extended full membership to Iran, Egypt, Ethiopia, the United Arab Emirates, and, later, Indonesia. Nigeria and Uganda became BRICS partner states in January 2025, along with seven other countries outside Africa. The ministers discussed a broad range of issues related to bilateral cooperation. Particular emphasis was placed on trade, investment, energy, agriculture, science, high technology and healthcare. Both sides reaffirmed their intention to deepen political dialogue, grounded in international law and the principles of the UN Charter. During the meeting, Odongo requested Russia's support 'to secure land or property in Moscow to establish a permanent chancery.' Uganda's top diplomat was part of a high-level delegation led by Vice President Jessica Alupo, who also held talks with Russian Federation Council Chairperson Valentina Matviyenko. Matviyenko described Uganda as one of 'Russia's key partners on the African continent.' She noted that the partnership reflects a shared commitment to advancing mutually beneficial cooperation across diverse sectors. 'Russia's historical friendship, founded on mutual respect, trust, and solidarity, contributed to the liberation of African countries,' Alupo noted. On Tuesday, the Ugandan vice president met with Russia's special presidential envoy for the Middle East and Africa, Mikhail Bogdanov. The talks focused on expanding bilateral cooperation ahead of the upcoming session of the Intergovernmental Russian-Ugandan Commission on Trade and Economic Cooperation, according to the Russian Foreign Ministry. Alupo visited Russia in September to participate in the 2024 Eurasian Women's Forum (EAWF) held in St. Petersburg.
