The International Criminal Court (ICC) Prosecutor, Karim Khan, announced on Monday that his office will resume its investigation into the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).
The renewed probe will center on alleged war crimes and crimes against humanity committed in the North Kivu province since January 2022.
Khan emphasized that the investigation will seek to hold all responsible parties accountable, regardless of their affiliation.
He linked the recent violence in the region to a longstanding pattern of conflict that began in 2002, coinciding with the ICC’s jurisdiction over the DRC.
The decision to renew the investigation comes in response to a second referral from the DRC government in May 2023.
The government accused the Rwanda Defense Forces (RDF) and the M23 rebel group of systematically plundering the country’s natural resources in eastern Congo.