Congo Seeks Over $4bn in Reparations From Uganda At ICJ

The Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) is seeking $4.3bn in reparations payments from neighbouring Uganda for its role in the conflicts in the country’s mineral-rich Ituri province.

The International Court of Justice is holding hearings this week in the long-running dispute between the DRC and Uganda over damages caused from 1998-2003.

Paul-Crispin Kakhozi Bin-Bulongo, a representative for the DRC, told the judges that the damage done to his country by Uganda during the over five-year conflict in Ituri was of “incommensurate magnitude” and said Uganda had not negotiated in good faith during reparations talks.

The case was first brought before the court in 1999 and in 2005 the ICJ ruled that Uganda had violated international law by occupying parts of Ituri with its own troops and supporting other armed groups in the area during the conflict. It also ruled that the DRC had violated international law with an attack on the Ugandan embassy in Kinshasa.

The World Court ordered the countries to negotiate mutual reparations but in 2015 the DRC returned to the UN court saying no progress was made. After setting up a commission of experts to help it assess damage amounts, the court is holding hearings on the issue this week.