DR Congo Takes Rwanda to International Court Over Alleged War Crimes

On 26 June 2026 the Democratic Republic of Congo formally lodged an application against Rwanda at the International Court of Justice (ICJ). Congo alleges that Rwanda has breached the Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide, the Convention on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination, the Convention Against Torture and the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women by supporting armed groups – notably the M23 rebels – responsible for massacres, extrajudicial killings, systematic sexual violence and mass forced displacement in eastern Congo.

The filing follows previous attempts by Kinshasa to bring Rwanda before the ICJ, but Rwanda has not accepted the Court’s compulsory jurisdiction, raising a procedural hurdle. The case will depend on whether the ICJ can assert jurisdiction based on the treaty clauses cited. Congo hopes the proceedings will secure international accountability for the alleged violations, while Rwanda is expected to contest the Court’s competence.

The dispute highlights ongoing regional tensions and the humanitarian crisis in eastern DRC, where civilian populations continue to suffer from armed conflict linked to cross‑border support.