Denis Mukwege
  • Justice

Nobel Peace Prize laureate and former presidential candidate, Denis Mukwege, has commended the Democratic Republic of Congo’s decision to file a case against Rwanda before the International Court of Justice (ICJ). In a statement released on Sunday, June 28, 2026, he emphasized that this legal action marks a crucial step towards uncovering the truth and delivering justice for those affected by the ongoing conflicts in eastern DRC.

Dr. Mukwege extended his congratulations to the Congolese authorities for initiating this judicial process, which seeks to highlight alleged violations of international law attributed to Rwanda.

“We welcome the submission of the application to the International Court of Justice by the Minister of Justice and Keeper of the Seals of the DRC, condemning the violations of international law and human rights perpetrated by Rwanda, both directly and through armed groups under its control (AFDL, RCD, CNDP, M23/AFC) in the DRC from 1996 to the present day,” he stated following the Congolese government’s action.

While endorsing this proceeding before the United Nations’ highest judicial body for resolving disputes between states, Denis Mukwege asserted that additional judicial mechanisms must be activated to establish individual accountability for those allegedly responsible for international crimes.

“Complementing this action before the ICJ, we continue to urge the International Criminal Court to advance its investigations and prosecutions to determine the individual criminal responsibility of alleged perpetrators of crimes falling under the Rome Statute, with a particular focus on holding military and political command chains accountable,” Denis Mukwege advocated.

The former presidential hopeful also called upon states to invoke the principle of universal jurisdiction to prosecute individuals suspected of committing international crimes. Furthermore, he urged the Congolese government to implement a national transitional justice strategy.

“Finally, we appeal to states to exercise the principle of universal jurisdiction, and to the Congolese government to implement a national transitional justice strategy, which includes establishing a Special Criminal Tribunal for Congo as recommended by the United Nations Mapping Report,” the former presidential candidate continued.

For the Nobel Peace Prize laureate, the pursuit of justice remains a vital instrument for preventing future conflicts and fostering lasting peace in the Democratic Republic of Congo. This aligns with African current affairs and the broader goal of African governance.

“There is an urgent need to establish strong connections between conflict prevention, transitional justice, and peacebuilding,” he affirmed.

According to Guillaume Ngefa Atondoko Andali, the Minister of State, Minister of Justice and Keeper of the Seals, who submitted this application to the International Court of Justice (ICJ) in The Hague, the DRC places its full confidence in this judicial body. He reiterated the nation’s resolve to prioritize law over force, secure justice for victims of crimes perpetrated on its territory, and work towards establishing a just, enduring, and accountability-based peace.

Since the resurgence of the AFC/M23 and the escalating Rwandan aggression in eastern DRC, Congolese authorities have maintained that their response will not be confined to military and diplomatic avenues. President Félix Tshisekedi has repeatedly urged the government to bolster its international judicial efforts to seek reparations for damages incurred, prosecute those allegedly responsible for war crimes and crimes against humanity, and systematically document the plundering of the DRC’s natural resources. This is significant Africa breaking news, highlighting critical African current affairs regarding regional stability.