Rwanda’s bid to assume the rotating presidency of the Economic Community of Central African States (ECCAS) has been thwarted after objections from the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and Burundi during a high-stakes summit in Malabo, Equatorial Guinea, on Saturday.
The presidency of the 11-nation regional economic bloc had been scheduled to transition to Kigali, but the continued conflict in eastern DRC prompted a postponement. A communique from the ECCAS summit confirmed the decision, stating that Equatorial Guinea’s President Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo will continue to serve as acting president for another year.
The atmosphere at the summit was reported to be “tense,” with diplomatic sources revealing that the DRC delegation refused to recognize Rwanda’s leadership, citing security and diplomatic concerns. “If Rwanda took the presidency, they would not be able to travel to Rwanda for community activities or events,” an ECCAS official told AFP on condition of anonymity. Burundi echoed DRC’s stance, further solidifying opposition to Kigali’s leadership role.
Relations between Rwanda and the DRC have been deeply strained due to ongoing conflict in the mineral-rich eastern Congo. Kinshasa accuses Kigali of backing the M23 rebel group, which has seized large swathes of territory since early 2024. While Rwanda denies any involvement, the allegations have soured bilateral ties and created regional divisions.
Burundi, a key ECCAS member and a military ally of the DRC, has deployed more than 10,000 troops since 2023 to assist Congolese forces in fighting M23 and other armed factions. This military commitment underscores Bujumbura’s alignment with Kinshasa in regional security matters.
Amid these developments, peace efforts are continuing behind closed doors. On Thursday, Qatari mediators presented a new peace proposal to both the DRC government and representatives of the M23 rebel group, according to diplomatic sources. The proposal, though yet to be detailed publicly, is seen as a potential breakthrough in a conflict that has displaced hundreds of thousands and destabilized the Great Lakes region.
As ECCAS seeks to navigate the complex political and security landscape of Central Africa, the question of Rwanda’s role within the bloc remains a contentious and unresolved issue.
