Kinshasa, June 26th, 2025 (CPA). – The decision by the African Court on Human and Peoples’ Rights (ACHPR) to reject the objections raised by Rwanda in the case against the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), in its preliminary ruling in Arusha, Tanzania, has been welcomed by a Congolese institution, in a statement received by the CPA on Thursday. ‘The National Human Rights Commission (CNDH-DRC) welcomes with deep satisfaction the decision handed down on Thursday, June 26th, 2025, by the ACHPR in case 007/2023 between the DRC and the Republic of Rwanda,’ read the statement signed by Paul Nsapu, president of this Congolese institution supporting democracy. According to him, the CNDH-DRC also noted in this statement that it had closely followed this procedure as part of its mandate to promote and protect human rights by ensuring regular monitoring since its inauguration, while considering this decision an important victory for international justice in Africa and a decisive step towards the judicial recognition of the rights of the Congolese people, who are regularly victims of aggression and serious violations of human rights and international humanitarian law in the eastern part of the country. ‘I congratulate the Congolese authorities, in particular President Félix Tshisekedi, for his active diplomacy, as well as the Congolese government, through the Deputy Minister of Justice in charge of International Litigation, for bringing this case before the pan-African court, thus reaffirming their commitment to the peaceful settlement of international disputes through the rule of law,’ the statement added. The CNDH once again praised the courage and foresight of the ACHPR, which, in accordance with African legal instruments, was able to dismiss procedural attempts to prematurely dismiss this first inter-state case it has ever heard, he said, before committing to continue to rigorously monitor this procedure until its conclusion and reaffirming his willingness to support all national, regional and international initiatives aimed at ending impunity and ensuring justice for Congolese victims.
A victory in the fight against impunity for human rights violations
Mr Georges Kapiamba, President of ACJ
Furthermore, the Congolese Association for Access to Justice (ACJ) also welcomed this decision by the African Court, describing it as a ‘victory in the fight against impunity for human rights violations’, according to the organization’s Twitter account, which was consulted by the CPA on the same day. « Observation within 90 days, the Congolese Association for Access to Justice (ACAJ) welcomes this victory in the fight against impunity for human rights violations and congratulates the Congolese government and the entire defense team. It remains mobilized alongside the victims to ensure that justice is done, » read the statement signed by Georges Kapiamba, president of Acaj. At this stage of the trial, the court rejected Rwanda’s challenge to its jurisdiction and declared itself materially and territorially competent to hear the case. It also dismissed the objection to the admissibility of the Congolese application and declared the DRC’s application admissible, before ordering Rwanda to file its response within 90 days of the notification of the judgment.