The East African Court of Justice has begun proceedings on a case filed by the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) against Rwanda, accusing the latter of violating its sovereignty and territorial integrity by allegedly sending troops to support rebel groups in the eastern region of the DRC. The DRC has accused Rwanda of sponsoring the most powerful armed group in Eastern DRC, the M23, leading to significant human rights violations in the North Kivu region. These allegations have been denied by the Rwandan government, leading to tensions between the two countries.
The DRC has alleged that Rwandan forces have been involved in aggression and war crimes in the eastern region of the country. The United Nations has estimated that between 3,000 and 4,000 Rwandan government forces are deployed in Eastern DRC, alongside the M23 armed group which has made significant advances since 2021. The East African Court of Justice, based in Arusha, Tanzania, is hearing the case brought forward by the DRC in an attempt to hold Rwanda accountable for these alleged violations and secure reparations for the victims of these crimes.
Rwanda has raised objections to the court proceedings, questioning the court’s jurisdiction in the case and arguing that the court does not handle criminal matters. The Rwandan legal team has also accused the DRC of failing to translate some documents from French to English, which is the court’s language. Both sides have presented their arguments to the court, and Presiding Judge Yohanne Masara has stated that a ruling on the objections will be delivered at a later date.
The court case comes at a time when Human Rights Watch has released a report accusing both the Rwanda army and the M23 armed group of indiscriminately shelling displacement camps and densely populated areas in Goma, North Kivu province. The report also accuses the Congolese armed forces and allied militias of increasing the risk faced by displaced people in the camps by deploying artillery nearby and committing abuses against residents. The conflict in Eastern DRC is fueled by competition for valuable minerals, with the region being rich in resources like cobalt and coltan.
The Democratic Republic of Congo has called for sanctions against Rwanda at the United Nations General Assembly for its alleged support of the M23 armed group. The East African Court of Justice is hearing the case brought forward by the DRC, seeking to hold Rwanda accountable for violations including atrocities against civilians and breaches of international law. The court proceedings have shed light on the ongoing conflict in Eastern DRC and the role of external actors in exacerbating the instability in the region.
