Rwanda has withdrawn from Central Africa’s main economic bloc, accusing the Economic Community of Central African States (ECCAS) of siding with the Democratic Republic of Congo amid ongoing conflict in eastern DRC.
The decision followed ECCAS leaders’ move Saturday to extend Equatorial Guinea’s presidency for another year, bypassing Rwanda, which was next in line for the rotating post.
Since January, M23 rebels, whom U.N. and U.S. experts say receive support from Rwanda, have seized key towns and large areas in eastern DRC, fueling a conflict that has claimed thousands of lives.
An ECCAS commissioner, speaking to AFP on condition of anonymity, said “it was tense between the Rwandan and DRC ministers,” adding that the Congolese side warned they would not be able to travel to Rwanda for “community events” if Kigali assumed the presidency.
Belgium, the former colonial power in both countries, has joined other international critics in denouncing Kigali’s support for M23, a group accused of committing multiple abuses.
