DRC Takes Rwanda to East African Court Over Alleged Support for Rebel Group

The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) has filed a lawsuit against Rwanda at the East African Court of Justice, accusing its neighbor of violating its sovereignty and supporting the M23 rebel group in eastern DRC, Al Jazeera reports.

The DRC claims that Rwandan forces have been directly involved in aggression and war crimes in the east, alongside the M23. They cite UN expert reports that estimate between 3,000 and 4,000 Rwandan troops are deployed alongside the M23, which has been gaining ground in eastern DRC since 2021 after a period of dormancy.

DRC President Felix Tshisekedi, just a day before the court proceedings, called for sanctions against Rwanda at the UN General Assembly for its alleged support of the M23. The DRC alleges that Rwanda’s actions have led to significant human rights violations in the North Kivu region, including atrocities against civilians.

The DRC is seeking to hold Rwanda accountable for these alleged violations, including breaches of international law, and secure reparations for the victims.

Rwanda has vehemently denied all accusations, questioning the court’s jurisdiction and arguing that the East African Court of Justice does not handle criminal matters. They also accused the DRC of failing to translate some of the lawsuit documents from French to English.

The court, established by a 1999 treaty among several East African nations, will review each side’s arguments before delivering a ruling on the objections.

Meanwhile, a new report by Human Rights Watch accuses both the Rwandan army and the M23 of indiscriminate shelling of displacement camps and densely populated areas in Goma, North Kivu. The report also accuses the Congolese armed forces and allied militias of committing abuses against displaced people in the camps.

The conflict in eastern DRC is fueled by a scramble for valuable minerals. The region is home to significant reserves of cobalt, used in electric vehicle batteries, and coltan, used in smartphones and other electronic devices.