The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) on Friday vowed to sue Rwanda at the East African Court of Justice in Arusha on September 26 over alleged violations.
The DRC had accused Rwanda of violating its sovereignty, committing atrocities against civilians, and breaking international law in the ongoing conflict in eastern Congo.
DRC’s president Felix Tshisekedi, along with U.S. and U.N. experts, accused neighbouring Rwanda of giving military backing to the M23 rebels.
Rwanda denies the claim, but in February it admitted that it has troops and missile systems in eastern Congo to safeguard its security, pointing to a buildup of Congolese forces near the border.
This legal action follows efforts by Congolese Deputy Minister of Justice Samuel Mbemba, who pressured the court to take up the case.
Meanwhile, Rwanda is also facing charges before the African Court on Human and Peoples’ Rights.
The DRC is pushing for accountability and urging the International Criminal Court (ICC) to speed up its investigation into Rwanda’s actions.
The government has launched a “Justice for the DRC” campaign to raise awareness and demand justice for the victims.
Eastern Congo has struggled with armed violence as more than 120 groups fight for power, land and valuable mineral resources, while others try to defend their communities. Some armed groups have been accused of mass killings.
The violence concentrated in the eastern North Kivu province has resulted not just in arbitrary killings but also in sexual abuse.
More than one in 10 women living in displaced people camps in the region reported being raped between November 2023 and April 2024, said Doctors without Borders, or MSF, in a report released Tuesday.
