Nobel Peace Prize laureate Denis Mukwege has welcomed the Democratic Republic of Congo’s decision to file a case against Rwanda at the International Court of Justice (ICJ). In a statement posted on X and obtained by our team on Sunday, 28 June 2026, Mukwege described this legal action as a crucial step toward uncovering the truth and delivering justice for victims of decades of conflict in eastern DRC.

The renowned physician praised the Congolese government for initiating judicial proceedings to address alleged violations of international law attributed to Rwanda, stating:

“We commend the submission of the claim to the International Court of Justice by the Minister of Justice of the DRC, exposing Rwanda’s direct violations of international and human rights law, as well as those committed through armed groups under its control (AFDL, RCD, CNDP, M23/AFC) in the DRC from 1996 to the present day.”

While endorsing the ICJ process as the UN’s highest court for interstate disputes, Mukwege emphasized that additional judicial mechanisms must be activated to establish individual accountability for those responsible for international crimes. He urged:

“In parallel with this ICJ procedure, we continue to call on the International Criminal Court to intensify its investigations and prosecutions to hold individuals criminally responsible under the Rome Statute, particularly targeting military and political command structures.”

The former presidential candidate also called on states to apply the principle of universal jurisdiction to pursue suspected perpetrators of international crimes. He further urged the Congolese government to develop a national transitional justice strategy, including the establishment of a special criminal tribunal for Congo as proposed in the UN Mapping Report.

“We also call on states to exercise universal jurisdiction and the Congolese government to implement a national transitional justice strategy that includes the creation of a Special Criminal Tribunal for Congo, as recommended in the UN Mapping Report,” Mukwege continued.”

For the Peace Prize winner, justice remains an essential tool for preventing new conflicts and building sustainable peace in the DRC. He stressed:

“There is an urgent need to strengthen the links between conflict prevention, transitional justice, and peace consolidation.”

Guillaume Ngefa Atondoko Andali, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Justice, confirmed that the DRC has lodged the case with the ICJ in The Hague, expressing full confidence in the court’s ability to uphold international law over force and to ensure justice for victims while promoting lasting peace based on accountability.

Since the resurgence of M23/AFDL and the escalation of Rwandan aggression in eastern DRC, Congolese authorities have maintained that their response extends beyond military and diplomatic measures. President Félix Tshisekedi has repeatedly emphasized the need to strengthen international judicial efforts to obtain reparations for harm suffered, prosecute alleged war criminals and perpetrators of crimes against humanity, and systematically document the plundering of DRC’s natural resources.