The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) has announced its intent to sue Rwanda at the African Court on Human and Peoples’ Rights, an African Union institution based in Arusha, Tanzania. The case, scheduled for a hearing on February 12, 2025, focuses on allegations of killings, looting, and other violations in the eastern DRC.
Congolese Deputy Minister of Justice Samuel Mbemba emphasized the significance of the lawsuit, stating, “For decades of aggression against our country—the pillaging of our minerals, the rape of our children and women, and the massacres of our populations—Rwanda and Paul Kagame have never faced real trials.” This legal action represents a major step in the DRC’s efforts to hold its neighbor accountable amid a history of strained relations.
Meanwhile, diplomatic efforts to resolve the conflict will take center stage at a peace summit on December 15 in Luanda, Angola. The summit, facilitated by Angolan President João Lourenço in his role as the African Union’s mediator, will bring together DRC President Félix Tshisekedi and Rwandan President Paul Kagame. According to a statement from the Angolan presidency, the meeting aims to “advance dialogue and seek a lasting solution” to the protracted violence in eastern Congo.
The DRC’s dual approach—pursuing justice through the courts while engaging in peace talks—reflects its strategy to address both the immediate and systemic causes of instability in the region. These efforts come on the heels of a November agreement between the DRC and Rwanda, brokered by Angola, which outlined steps toward resolving the conflict. Together, these initiatives signal renewed international attention on the crisis in eastern DRC and the urgent need for resolution.