Legal Journals

ICC has Jurisdiction over Crimes in the Kivus: ICC Prosecutor

By fshadan

On 4^th November 2008, the Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court (ICC), Luis Moreno-Ocampo expressed concern over the situation in the Kivus area of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). He further reiterated that his Office is closely monitoring the reports on the attacks on civilian populations in the area.

Armed conflict between the Laurent Nkunda led National Conference for the Defence of the People (CNDP), Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Rwanda (FDLR) and the military of the Democratic Republic of Congo (FARDC) has been continuous since the beginning of this decade.

Recalling that the ICC has jurisdiction to investigate and prosecute war crimes, crimes against humanity and genocide committed in the territory of the DRC or by Congolese nationals since 01 July 2002, the Prosecutor observed that ?Crimes must stop. The people in the two provinces of North and South Kivu have already suffered too much. Rapes, massive displacements are serious crimes and will not go unpunished?

The Office of the Prosecutor is investigating commission of such crimes by individuals belonging to all the groups operating in the area, including the CNDP, the FDLR and the FARDC.  After meeting a delegation of Congolese Parliamentarians, the Prosecutor urged all actors, including regional and international organizations, to assist the DRC authorities, particularly in the execution of the ICC arrest warrant against Bosco Ntaganda, who is the chief of staff of Laurent Nkunda’s CNDP and has an active role in the conflict. The focus of this investigation will be announced shortly by the Prosecutor. For further information, please click here

Full post as published by Harvard International Law Journal Digest on November 08, 2008 (boomark / email).