Rwanda has announced its withdrawal from the Economic Community of Central African States (ECCAS) following a diplomatic dispute with the Democratic Republic of Congo over its alleged support for the M23 rebel group in eastern DR Congo.
The decision comes after ECCAS leaders refused to allow Rwanda to take up the rotating chairmanship role, citing the country’s alleged aggression against DR Congo.
The DR Congo government, along with the US and France, has accused Rwanda of backing the M23 rebels, who have seized key cities in eastern DR Congo, including Goma and Bukavu.
Rwanda denies these allegations, claiming its troops are deployed along the border to prevent the conflict from spilling over.
In response to Rwanda’s withdrawal, DR Congo’s government spokesperson Patrick Muyaya stated that Rwanda cannot violate regional principles and expect to lead the organization.
ECCAS has ordered Rwanda to withdraw its troops from Congolese soil, and the dispute remains unresolved. Rwanda had previously left ECCAS in 2007 but rejoined several years later.
Meanwhile, a separate controversy has emerged involving British soldiers stationed in Kenya, where a British soldier has been arrested and questioned over a rape allegation near the British Army Training Unit Kenya (BATUK) in Nanyuki.
This incident has sparked renewed scrutiny of foreign troops’ conduct in Kenya and calls for greater accountability.
