African Court holds public hearing on Democratic Republic of Congo v Rwanda disagreement

The African Court on Human and Peoples’ Rights began a public hearing in the matter of the Democratic Republic of Congo v Republic of Rwanda (Application 007/2023) on Wednesday at the court's seat in Arusha, Tanzania.

The public hearing is expected to continue on Thursday according to an African Court document made available to the Communication for Development and Advocacy Consult (CDA CONSULT) in Accra, by Ms Chipiliro Kansilanga, African Court Head of Communication Unit.

According to the African Court document, on August 21st, 2023, the Democratic Republic of Congo (the Applicant State) filed an Application against the Republic of Rwanda.

The applicant cited alleged violations of rights and obligations under, among others, the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights (the Charter), the Protocol to the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights (the Charter) on Women’s Rights, the African Charter on the Rights and Welfare of the Child (ACRWC), the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR), and the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (ICESCR).

The alleged violations are in relation to the armed conflict, since 2021, in the eastern part of the Applicant State between its armed forces and the M23 rebel group supposedly backed by the Respondent State.

The Applicant State claims this has caused a massacre, occupation of several areas, mass displacement of 520,000 people, a cholera epidemic, and destruction of schools thereby depriving 20,000 children of education, destruction of infrastructure such as electricity supply facilities, and the looting and destruction of agricultural infrastructure homes and health centers.

It also alleges that the Respondent State harbors individuals accused of serious crimes, and against whom its courts have issued international arrest warrants.

The Applicant State asks the Court to hold the Respondent State responsible, order troop withdrawal, end support for M23, and provide reparations for damages and victims.

The Respondent State has raised objections to the jurisdiction of the Court and the admissibility of the Application.

The Public Hearing has been scheduled to hear the Parties' arguments on the jurisdiction of the Court and the admissibility of the Application.

Details of the case can be accessed via the following link: https://www.african-court.org/cpmt/fr/details-case/0072023

Members of the general public, human rights observers, interested parties, and media outlets are all welcome to attend the Public Hearing at the seat of the Court in Arusha – Tanzania, or connect virtually on the following links: