Rwanda plans to leave the Central African trade group after members refused to make it leader. The country expected to run the 11-nation bloc at Saturday's meeting. Equatorial Guinea kept the top job instead of giving it to Rwanda. Rwanda's government called the decision unfair and against group rules. Officials blamed Congo for turning other members against Rwanda.
M23 fighters backed by Rwanda captured major cities in eastern Congo earlier this year. Thousands of people died during the fighting between rebel groups and Congo's army. African leaders and American diplomats work to stop the war from spreading across the region. Congo and Western nations say Rwanda sends weapons and soldiers to help M23 rebels. Rwanda denies helping the rebels and claims it acts to protect itself from Congo's forces.
President Trump wants a peace deal between the two countries to attract Western business investment. The region holds valuable minerals like gold and copper that companies want to mine. ECCAS started in the 1980s to help Central African countries work together on trade and security issues.
M23 fighters backed by Rwanda captured major cities in eastern Congo earlier this year. Thousands of people died during the fighting between rebel groups and Congo's army. African leaders and American diplomats work to stop the war from spreading across the region. Congo and Western nations say Rwanda sends weapons and soldiers to help M23 rebels. Rwanda denies helping the rebels and claims it acts to protect itself from Congo's forces.
President Trump wants a peace deal between the two countries to attract Western business investment. The region holds valuable minerals like gold and copper that companies want to mine. ECCAS started in the 1980s to help Central African countries work together on trade and security issues.
