Rwanda pulls out of Central African forum over dispute with DRC
The move was confirmed in a diplomatic note issued late Saturday, in which Rwanda cited its decision to withdraw from the bloc as a direct response to developments at the recent summit held in Malabo.
Rwanda’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced on Saturday, June 7, 2025, that the country has officially exited the Economic Community of Central African States (ECCAS).
The move was confirmed in a diplomatic note issued late Saturday, in which Rwanda cited its decision to withdraw from the bloc as a direct response to developments at the recent summit held in Malabo.
President Paul Kagame’s government expressed disappointment over the recent developments within the Economic Community of Central African States (ECCAS), stating that Rwanda was next in line to assume the bloc’s rotating chairmanship.
However, member states bypassed this expectation and handed the leadership to the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).
In a strongly worded statement, the Rwandan government accused the DRC allegedly backed by certain member states of manipulating ECCAS for its own interests.
"Rwanda deplores the manipulation of ECCAS by the Democratic Republic of Congo, aided by some member countries. This misuse of the organization’s mandate was once again evident at the 26th Ordinary Summit in Malabo, where Rwanda’s rightful claim to the chairmanship under Article 6 of the Treaty was deliberately disregarded to serve the DRC’s agenda," the statement read.
Established in 1983, the Economic Community of Central African States (ECCAS) was created to promote economic and social development across various sectors including industry, transportation, communications, energy, agriculture, natural resources, trade, customs, finance, human resources, tourism, education, culture, science, and technology.
The community’s membership comprises Angola, Burundi, Cameroon, the Republic of Congo, Gabon, Equatorial Guinea, the Central African Republic, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Rwanda, São Tomé and Príncipe, and Chad.
ECCAS is one of the eight Regional Economic Communities (RECs) recognized by the African Union as key drivers of regional integration throughout Africa.
In addition to accusing the Democratic Republic of Congo of colluding with certain ECCAS member states, Rwanda also challenged the African Union’s role, noting that it had formally raised concerns about being marginalized.
However, Kigali expressed disappointment over the AU’s inability to uphold and enforce the regulations governing ECCAS’s functioning.
Rwanda previously condemned its unlawful exclusion from the 22nd ECCAS Summit held in 2023 in Kinshasa under the DRC’s leadership, in a letter addressed to the Chairperson of the African Union.
The government stated that the subsequent silence and lack of action demonstrated the organization’s failure to uphold its own rules.
"Rwanda condemns the violation of its rights as guaranteed by ECCAS’s founding documents. As a result, Rwanda finds no reason to remain part of an organization whose current operations contradict its founding principles and intended mission," the statement declared.
Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of Congo have been embroiled in a prolonged diplomatic conflict over the M23 rebel group, which has been accused of serious human rights abuses in the Kivu region.
Despite the tensions, both nations have agreed to suspend hostilities in eastern DRC while peace negotiations, facilitated by Qatar, continue.
In a surprise meeting in Doha, Congolese President Félix Tshisekedi and Rwandan President Paul Kagame reaffirmed their commitment to an unconditional ceasefire.
