The Democratic Republic of Congo has finally done what many in the region have been demanding for years: it has filed a case against Rwanda at the International Court of Justice, accusing Kigali of decades of military interference, plunder and human rights abuses. Sources close to the Congolese legal team confirm the application was submitted late Tuesday, marking the first time the two neighbours have faced off in the world's highest court over a conflict that has cost millions of lives and destabilised central Africa.
Uncovered documents from the Congolese justice ministry, reviewed by this newspaper, allege that Rwanda has violated international law by supporting armed rebel groups, most notably the M23, which has seized swathes of territory in eastern DRC since 2021. The filing cites evidence of direct Rwandan military involvement in at least three major offensives, including the capture of the strategic town of Bunagana in June 2022. Kinshasa is seeking reparations for the destruction of infrastructure, the displacement of over two million people and the systematic looting of its mineral wealth.
The case is a gamble. The ICJ has no enforcement power beyond its rulings, and Rwanda has a long history of denying accusations of aggression. But by bringing the dispute to The Hague, President Felix Tshisekedi is betting that the court can shame Kigali into compliance or at least expose the truth to a global audience. 'This is not about a single incident,' a senior Congolese diplomat told me on condition of anonymity. 'This is about a pattern of behaviour that has lasted more than 25 years. It is time for Rwanda to answer for its actions.'
The timing is no coincidence. Rwanda's President Paul Kagame, once hailed as a post-genocide success story, faces increasing scrutiny over his authoritarian rule and his role in the eastern DRC. A UN report published in December revealed that over 4,000 Rwandan troops had crossed into Congolese territory between 2022 and 2023, backing M23 fighters in what the report called 'de facto military occupation.' Rwanda has dismissed the findings as politically motivated, but the evidence is mounting.
Behind the legal arguments lies a grimmer reality: the ICJ process could take years. Meanwhile, the guns keep firing. Only last week, M23 rebels advanced on the outskirts of Goma, the provincial capital of North Kivu, forcing thousands to flee. The Congolese army, backed by UN peacekeepers and a regional force, has struggled to contain the insurgency. Human rights groups accuse all sides of atrocities, including summary executions and sexual violence.
The case also raises uncomfortable questions about the international community's role. Rwanda is a key Western ally in the fight against Islamist militants in Mozambique and Somalia. It receives hundreds of millions of dollars in aid each year. Is the ICJ likely to bite the hand that feeds it? 'The court must be above politics,' insists Ousmane Diallo, a lawyer representing victims of M23 attacks. 'But we know that the powerful often escape accountability.'
For the Congolese people, the ICJ filing is a small but significant step. After decades of being treated as a footnote in a resource war, they have finally spoken directly to a tribunal. The question is whether anyone will listen.
This is a developing story. More details will emerge in the coming days as both sides file their preliminary objections. But one thing is already clear: the conflict in the DRC is no longer a forgotten war. It is coming to a court near you.
