The Democratic Republic of Congo has filed a case at the International Court of Justice in The Hague accusing Rwanda of orchestrating a conflict in eastern DRC to control deposits of coltan, gold and other strategic minerals. The complaint alleges that Rwandan-backed M23 rebels have seized mining areas and exported resources worth an estimated $300 million annually, violating Congo's sovereignty and the UN Charter. Kinshasa seeks reparations and an immediate halt to cross-border interference.
Rwanda has denied the claims, countering that it acts defensively against Congolese rebel groups. The court has not yet set a hearing date, but the filing escalates a long-simmering dispute into the realm of international law. The case now joins dockets addressing state accountability for resource wars in Africa, setting a precedent for how mineral wealth fuels regional instability.
