Not Yet Over! DRC Launches Case Against Rwanda To African Court of Human & People’s Rights

By Kato Jamil

Rwanda stands accused of backing the M23 group, a rebel military group which has carried out atrocities against civilians in the conflict-torn region of North Kivu, located in the eastern DRC.

The DRC’s Deputy Minister of Justice and Legal Affairs, Samuel Mbemba called this a landmark moment, after “decades of aggression against our country, the pillaging of our minerals, the rape of our children and women and the massacres of our people”.

The case comes four months after the DRC filed a case against Rwanda at the East African Court of Justice. The DRC accused Rwanda of violating its sovereignty, committing atrocities against civilians, and breaking international law in eastern DRC.

In November, with Angola’s mediation the DRC and Rwanda signed a key agreement aimed at working towards peace in the conflict region. The document, known as the Concept of Operations (CONOPS) lays out a plan to push forward the peace process in eastern DRC, through four key steps.

In a Facebook post, the Angolan Presidency announced that the country’s respective Presidents are set to meet for talks on 15 December, at a summit in the Angolan capital of Luanda.

The tensions between Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) trace back to historical grievances and more recent security concerns. The primary issues fueling the row include:

1. Historical Context and Rwandan Genocide: After the 1994 Rwandan Genocide, many perpetrators, including members of the Hutu-dominated Interahamwe militia, fled into eastern DRC. Rwanda has consistently accused the DRC of harboring these groups, particularly the FDLR (Forces Démocratiques de Libération du Rwanda), which continues to threaten Rwanda’s security.
2. Rebel Activity and Proxy Conflicts: The DRC has accused Rwanda of supporting armed rebel groups in eastern DRC, most notably the M23 movement. This group has been active since 2012, claiming to defend Tutsi communities, but it has been blamed for significant violence and displacement in the region. Rwanda denies supporting the M23 but acknowledges shared ethnic ties.
3. Resource Exploitation: The resource-rich eastern DRC has been a focal point of conflict. Rwanda has been accused of exploiting the region’s minerals through proxy militias, further complicating relations.
4. Diplomatic Fallout: Escalating accusations and cross-border violence have strained diplomatic ties. The DRC expelled Rwanda’s ambassador in late 2022 amid accusations of Rwandan support for the M23 rebellion, signaling a significant deterioration in relations.
5. Regional and International Mediation: Efforts by the East African Community (EAC) and international actors to mediate have seen limited success. The underlying issues, including militia activity, refugee crises, and resource control, remain unresolved.