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Case proceedings at the East African Court of Justice, (Photo by East African Court of Justice)
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The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) has formally accused Rwanda of violating its sovereignty by deploying troops to support rebel groups in eastern DRC. The allegations are now being heard by the East African Court of Justice, marking a significant legal escalation in the ongoing conflict between the two nations.
Eastern DRC has been plagued by instability for years, with over 120 armed groups vying for power, land, and access to valuable mineral resources. The DRC government, backed by the United States and France, claims that Rwanda is actively supporting the M23 rebel group, one of the region’s most powerful militias. Kigali has repeatedly denied these accusations.
In a statement, the Tanzania-based East African Court of Justice said:
"DRC accuses Rwanda of acts of aggression that allegedly violate its sovereignty, territorial integrity, political stability, and independence. The DRC argues that Rwanda’s actions have led to significant human rights violations in the North Kivu region."
The proceedings began just one day after DRC President Félix Tshisekedi called for sanctions against Rwanda at the UN General Assembly for its alleged backing of M23.
Allegations of aggression and war crimes
The DRC claims that Rwandan forces have been involved in aggression and war crimes in the eastern region. UN experts estimated in July that between 3,000 and 4,000 Rwandan troops are currently deployed in eastern DRC, fighting alongside M23, which has made significant advances since 2021 after nearly a decade of dormancy.
The lawsuit seeks to hold Rwanda accountable for human rights violations, including atrocities against civilians and breaches of international law. The DRC is also pursuing reparations for victims of these alleged crimes.
Elisha Ongoya, the DRC’s legal representative, expressed satisfaction with the case moving forward:
"We are happy the case has taken off."
However, Rwanda has raised objections to the court’s jurisdiction, arguing that the East African Court of Justice does not handle criminal matters. Emile Ntwali, Rwanda’s lawyer, also criticized the DRC for failing to translate key documents from French into English, the official language of the court.
Presiding Judge Yohanne Masara stated that the court would review arguments from both sides and deliver a ruling on the jurisdictional objections at a later date.
Lawyers at the East African Court of Justice (Photo by East African Court of Justice)
Human rights concerns amid legal battle
As the court case unfolded, Human Rights Watch released a damning report accusing both the Rwandan army and M23 of indiscriminately shelling displacement camps and other densely populated areas in Goma, North Kivu province. Goma, the largest city in eastern DRC, is home to two million residents, including half a million displaced people. The report also accused the Congolese army and allied militias of increasing risks for displaced civilians by deploying artillery near camps and committing abuses against residents. Both sides, the report claims, have been involved in killing, raping, and obstructing humanitarian aid in the region.
A conflict over mineral wealth
At the heart of the conflict is control over eastern DRC’s vast mineral wealth. The country possesses some of the world’s largest reserves of valuable minerals, including cobalt, a critical component in lithium-ion batteries used in electric vehicles. The DRC produces approximately 70 percent of the world’s cobalt supply. The region is also rich in coltan, a mineral essential for electronics like smartphones and gaming consoles.
As the legal and military struggles continue, the humanitarian crisis in the DRC grows more dire, with millions of civilians caught in the crossfire of a war driven by the quest for mineral resources.
Source: Aljazeera and other News Agencies
