DR Congo files case against Rwanda at ICJ over decades of alleged ‘abuses’ | Armed Groups News
DRC Files Case Against Rwanda at ICJ Over Alleged Abuses
Kinshasa, DRC — The Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) has initiated legal proceedings against Rwanda at the International Court of Justice (ICJ), alleging decades of human rights abuses in the eastern region of the country. The Congolese government submitted its application on June 26, accusing Kigali of direct involvement in massacres, forced displacements, and various atrocities since 1996.
The ICJ confirmed receipt of the DRC’s application, stating it addresses “abuses attributable to Rwanda over a period extending from 1996 to the present.” In its filing, the DRC contends that victims of these abuses primarily include Hutus whom the Rwandan government pursued following the 1994 genocide against the Tutsi. However, the application also cites numerous other ethnic groups—such as the Nyindu, Bembe, Lega, Nande, Hunde, and Bashi—as targets of violence.
The Congolese government described the conditions facing civilian populations in eastern DRC as experiencing “exceptional magnitude” suffering, further detailing instances of massacres, extrajudicial executions, torture, sexual violence, and discrimination.
Specifically, the application accuses Rwandan armed forces and allied militias, including the M23/AFC alliance and the Alliance of Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Congo-Zaire (AFDL), of conducting unlawful military operations across eastern DRC. These actions have reportedly escalated since the Rwandan genocide and have continued through various conflicts, including the First and Second Congo Wars.
M23 has gained notoriety in recent years, seizing key strategic cities such as Goma and Bukavu in early 2025, resulting in the displacement of hundreds of thousands and undermining fragile peace-building efforts in the region.
Recent diplomatic initiatives, including a U.S.-brokered peace agreement and a Qatari-mediated ceasefire, have failed to curb the violence, leading to ongoing instability.
Rwanda has consistently denied allegations of supporting M23, asserting its military presence in eastern DRC is defensive in nature and aimed at combating the Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Rwanda (FDLR), a Hutu militia. Kigali accuses Kinshasa of harboring FDLR militants, a claim the DRC rejects.
The DRC is seeking reparations and an order for Rwanda to cease all alleged violations. Kigali has not yet responded to the recent legal filings.
This marks the third occasion the DRC has pursued action against Rwanda at the ICJ; a prior attempt in 2006 was dismissed due to jurisdictional issues.
