The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) has accused Rwanda of committing “genocide against more than 3,5-million people” in the DRC, including the victims of “the recent massacres” in Kisangani, by engaging in “killing, slaughter, rape, throat-slitting and crucifying”.
In a case filed on Tuesday at the International Court of Justice in The Hague in the Netherlands, the DRC government stated that Rwanda had been guilty of “armed aggression” in the DRC since August 1998, and that it had resulted in “large-scale human slaughter” in the South Kivu, Katanga Orientale provinces in the east of the country.
The application submitted to the court accused Rwandan troops and their Congolese rebel allies, the Rassemblement congolais pour la democratie (RCD), of rape and sexual assault, assassinating and kidnapping political figures and human rights activists, systematic looting of public and private institutions, seizure of property belonging to civilians, and arrests and arbitrary detentions in contravention of the United Nations Charter, the Organisation of African Unity Charter, the International Bill of Rights, and others.
It demanded the “immediate, unconditional withdrawal” of Rwandan troops from DRC territory, and stated that DRC citizens were entitled to compensation for acts of wrongdoing, including looting, destruction, slaughter and removal of property.
It also requested that “provisional measures” be taken pending the court’s decision on the case, which may take up to several years. The purpose of these measures would be “to prevent irreparable harm being caused to its [DRC’s] lawful rights and to those of its population by reason of the occupation of part of its territory by Rwandan forces”. The application added that to fail to make an immediate order for the measures sought, “would have humanitarian consequences incapable of being made good, whether in the short term or in the long term”.
The Rwandan Special Envoy for the DRC, Patrick Mazimhaka, denied the charges. He told Irin that Rwanda had no case to answer. He said people had died in the region due to neglect, poverty, disease and a lack of infrastructure, medical supplies, food and access for aid agencies. “Rwanda cannot be held responsible,” he said.
The Rwandan foreign minister, Andre Bumaya, declined to comment, saying that the government was preparing a statement on the matter.
The International Court of Justice would hold hearings on the request for provisional measures on 13 June and possibly on the 14th also, the ICJ said in a statement. – Irin