East African court looks into DRC accusations of Rwanda

A regional court in East Africa, based in Arusha in Tanzania, started examining accusations according to which Rwanda backed rebels against DRC forces.

The case was filed by the DRC, alleging Rwanda has violated its territorial sovereignty and sent troops to back rebels in the east known as the M23.

The DRC also accuses Rwanda of contributing to war crimes in the resource-rich east where various groups have been challenging the central government militarily, stoking instability and displacement.

In July, U.N. experts estimated that between 3,000 and 4,000 Rwanda government forces are deployed in eastern Congo alongside the M23 rebel group, which has been making major advances.

Rwanda has often denied any involvement in the ongoing infighting between DRC forces and the M23 rebels.

The court was set up under a 1999 treaty among a group of east African nations and is meant to hear cases from Kenya, Burundi, Rwanda, Uganda, and Tanzania. The court has been ratified by the United Nations.