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Rwanda withdraws from Economic Community of Central African States

In addition, the Rwandan government issued a letter to the African Union president complaining of the ECCAS’ illegal actions

PRETORIA, June 8. /TASS/. Rwanda has announced its withdrawal from the Economic Community of Central African States (ECCAS) in protest to the organization’s refusal to pass the rotating presidency for the next year over to it, the New Times newspaper reported.

"Rwanda denounces the questioning of its rights guaranteed by the constitutive texts of ECCAS," it cited the government’s statement. "In this situation, it sees no reason to maintain its membership in an organization whose functioning is now contrary to its principles and its usefulness."

In addition, the Rwandan government issued a letter to the African Union president complaining of the ECCAS’ illegal actions.

An ECCAS session on Saturday decided to extend for one more year Equatorial Guinea’s presidency. However, under the organization’s charter, one-year presidency is rotated among its member countries. At the Saturday session, Equatorial Guinea was to pass over presidency to Rwanda but the move was challenged by Burundi and the Democratic Republic of the Congo amid the latter’s claims that neighboring Rwanda supports rebels operating in DR Congo’s eastern parts.

Set up in 1983 and headquartered in Libreville, Gabon, ECCAS unites Angola, Burundi, Gabon, DR Congo, Cameroon, the Republic of the Congo, Sao Tome and Principe, Chad, Equatorial Guinea. Rwanda was also its member until now.

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