Kinshasa, DR Congo – On February 24, 2025, Karim Khan, the prosecutor for the International Criminal Court (ICC), arrived in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) as the nation faces an intensifying humanitarian crisis caused by renewed fighting in the eastern regions. The Rwanda-backed M23 militia, which has been active in the region since late 2021, has recently captured two major cities, solidifying its presence and further destabilizing an already volatile area.
Khan expressed grave concern over the situation, emphasizing the urgency of holding armed groups accountable for their actions. “We are extremely worried about recent developments in Congo, particularly in the east,” Khan told reporters upon his arrival in the DRC capital, Kinshasa. “The message has to be conveyed very clearly: any armed group, any armed forces, any allies to armed groups or armed forces don’t have a blank cheque. They must comply with international humanitarian law,” he stressed.
The M23’s resurgence has been accompanied by widespread violence, displacing thousands and contributing to an ongoing humanitarian catastrophe. According to UN experts, the M23 has been bolstered by around 4,000 Rwandan soldiers, further complicating the conflict, which pits the group against the Congolese armed forces (FARDC). Since the start of this phase of violence, more than 7,000 people have reportedly lost their lives, with many of the casualties being civilians, as confirmed by Congolese Prime Minister Judith Suminwa Tuluka during a session of the UN Human Rights Council on February 24, 2025.
Khan’s visit to the DRC aims to reaffirm the ICC’s commitment to investigating crimes committed in the region, a process that began with the court’s first investigation into DRC-related crimes in 2002. The ICC prosecutor’s office opened a new investigation in 2023, focusing on crimes committed since January 2022, particularly in North Kivu province. The investigation forms part of the broader effort to ensure accountability and justice for victims of the ongoing violence.
Throughout his visit, Khan is set to meet with several key figures, including DRC President Félix Tshisekedi, government ministers, Bintou Keita, the UN Secretary-General’s Special Representative for the DRC and head of MONUSCO (UN peacekeeping mission), as well as victims of the conflict and members of civil society. He emphasized that international humanitarian law must be applied equally, noting that “the people of the DRC are as precious as the people of Ukraine, the people of Israel or Palestine, girls or women of Afghanistan.”
The current investigation into the situation in eastern DRC is being closely monitored by the ICC. Khan’s office has noted that the DRC’s long-standing struggles with armed groups, compounded by foreign involvement and a lack of effective governance, present a significant challenge for the application of international law. The escalating death toll and humanitarian crisis have underscored the need for collective action to address accountability for war crimes and human rights violations in the region.
Therwandan
