Rwanda has officially rejoined the Economic Community of Central African States (ECCAS), eight years after pulling out of the regional bloc. The membership was confirmed this week during an annual Conference of Heads of State and Government of the organisation in Ndjamena, Chad. Rwanda expressed the intention to rejoin the bloc in 2013 after pulling out in 2007 saying it was trying to avoid overlapping memberships in several regional community groupings. Reacting to the development on Twitter, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Louise Mushikiwabo said that the country was upbeat on readmission to the bloc and proud of the Central African Heritage. Rwanda was one of the founding members of ECCAS in 1983. The primary objectives of the body include championing the process of economic cooperation and integration of Central African states. Acting Director General in charge of Multilateral Affairs at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation, Olivier Nduhungirehe said that the readmission would further place Rwanda favourably in the integration agenda. “With Rwandas readmission into ECCAS, our country, already member of EAC, ICGLR & COMESA, consolidates its position at the heart of Africa,” Nduhungirehe on his Twitter timeline. Following Rwanda’s readmission, the body now has eleven members including; Angola, Burundi, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Congo, Democratic Republic of Congo, Gabon, Equatorial Guinea, Chad, and Sao Tome & Principe. Other than ECASS, Rwanda is a member of the East African Community, the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa and the Economic Community of the Great Lakes Countries.
