Recently, the Chief Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court (ICC) announced the opening of a preliminary investigation in Congo. This comes after the Congolese authorities requested an inquiry into alleged crimes in the North Kivu province from January 2022 onwards.
It is the second time that Congo has sought an investigation by the ICC, with the first request made in 2004, resulting in convictions of rebel leaders involved in the long-standing armed conflict in the resource-rich nation.
The recent referral asks the ICC prosecutors to focus to “investigate particular armed forces and groups” responsible for crimes in North Kivu, where over 120 armed groups are engaged in conflict for reasons such as territorial disputes and control over valuable mineral resources, as well as community protection.
Just recently, fighters associated with the Allied Democratic Forces (ADF), believed to have ties with the Islamic State group, were responsible for the deaths of at least 17 individuals, according to authorities.
Conflict escalated towards the end of 2021 when the M23 rebel group, which had been largely dormant for nearly a decade, resurfaced and began capturing territory. The M23 gained prominence a decade ago when they took control of Goma, the largest city in eastern Congo, situated on the border with Rwanda.
The group takes its name from a peace deal signed on March 23, 2009, which they accuse the Congolese government of failing to implement. The prolonged conflict has had a devastating impact on the civilian population, with approximately 5.5 million people internally displaced in eastern Congo, as reported by the United Nations.
Prosecutor Karim Khan stated that his preliminary assessment will investigate all crimes in the region, “irrespective of affiliation or nationality.” His initial step will involve evaluating whether Congo’s request can be integrated with prior investigations and cases.
