On Friday, June 13, Rwanda was officially handed the leadership responsibilities of the Regional Centre on Small Arms (RECSA), an African organization focused on combating the illegal spread of small arms.
Rwanda assumed this role during the 11th meeting of RECSA ministers, held in Nairobi, Kenya.
The handover was received by Rwanda’s Minister of Interior, Dr. Vincent Biruta, who was given the organization’s flag and official materials by his Kenyan counterpart, Kipchumba Murkomen.
Rwanda takes over the RECSA presidency from Kenya, and Tanzania will serve as the deputy leader.
Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Ambassador Olivier Nduhungirehe, revealed that before the appointment, the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) had tried to block Rwanda from taking over the RECSA leadership, but their efforts failed.
He posted on X:
“It is important to know that DRC once again protested, trying to prevent Rwanda from leading RECSA. Fortunately, African organizations cannot be intimidated or manipulated by the desperate regime in Kinshasa.”
This was not the first time the DRC attempted to block Rwanda’s leadership role. Last week, DRC also prevented Rwanda from taking over the presidency of the Economic Community of Central African States (ECCAS), a position that Rwanda was next in line to assume.
That decision deeply disappointed Rwanda, which subsequently withdrew from ECCAS, accusing the organization of being manipulated by DRC with the support of some member states.
