By Enyichukwu Enemanna
The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) has vowed to sue neighbouring Rwanda before the regional East African Court of Justice in Arusha at a date not later than September 26, accusing Kigali of violating its sovereignty.
The DRC also accused Rwanda of committing atrocities against civilians, and breaking international law in the ongoing conflict with the armed group, M23 in eastern Congo.
Heritage Times HT reports that DRC’s President Félix Tshisekedi, the US, UN and French experts have repeatedly accused Kigali of backing the M23 with military equipment, an allegation Kigali denies.
This legal action follows efforts by Congolese Deputy Minister of Justice Samuel Mbemba, who pressured the court to take up the case.
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 of M23 killings and several other groups.
Eastern Congo has struggled with armed violence as nearly 120 groups fight for power, land and valuable mineral deposits in the region, while others try to defend their communities.
Rwanda which denies involvement had in February admitted that it has troops and missile systems in eastern Congo, which it says is meant to safeguard its security, pointing to a buildup of Congolese forces near the border.
The violence concentrated in the eastern North Kivu province has resulted in arbitrary killings and sexual abuses.
According to Doctors without Borders, more than one in 10 women living in displaced people camps in the region reported being raped between November 2023 and April 2024.
