INTERNATIONAL COURTOFJUSTICE
Peace Palace, 2517 KJ The Hague. Tel.(31-70-302 23 23). Cables: Intercourt, The Hague.
Telefax (31-70-364 99 28). Telex 32323. Internet address: http: // www.icj-cij.org
Communiqué
unofficial
for immediate release
No. 2002/22
20 September 2002
Armed Activities on the Territory of the Congo (New Application: 2002)
(Democratie Republic of the Congo v. Rwanda)
Fixing of time-limits for the filing of pleadings concerning the jurisdiction of the
Court and the admissibility of the Application
THE HAGUE, 20 September 2002. The International Court of Justice (ICJ) has decided that
the written pleadings in the case concerning Armed Activities on the Territorythe Congo (New
Application: 2002) (Democratie Republic of the Congo v. Rwanda) shall first be addressed to the
questions of the jurisdiction of the Court and the admissibility of the Application. In an Order of
18 September 2002, it fixed the following time-limits for the filing of those pleadings:
20 January 2003 for the Memorial of the Rwandese Republic;
20 May 2003 for the Counter-Memorial of the Democratie Republic of the Congo.
The subsequent procedure was reserved for further decision.
The Order was made taking account of the views of the Parties, as expressed at a meeting
held by thePresident of the Court with their representatives on 4 September 2002.
In its Order the Court refers toits earlier Order of 10 July 2002 (see Press Release 2002/19)
on the Congo's request for the indication of provisional measures, in which it, on the one hand,
held that it"does not in the present case have the prima facie jurisdiction necessary to indicate
those provisional measures requested by the Congo" and, on the other, "in the absence of a
manifest lack of jurisdiction", rejected Rwanda's request that the case be removed from the List;
the Court further held that its findings in no way prejudged the questionits jurisdiction to deal
with the merits of the case or any questions relating to the admissibility of the Application, or
relating to the merits themselves.
History of the proceedings
On 28 May 2002 the Democratie Republic of the Congo instituted proceedings against the
Rwandese Republic in respect of a dispute concerning "massive, serious and flagrant violations of
human rights and of international humanitarian law" alleged to have been committed "by Rwanda
on the territoryf the Democratie Republic of the Congo in flagrant breach of the sovereignty and
territorial integrity [of the latter], as guaranteed by the United Nations andters".
In its Application the Congo, in order to found the jurisdiction of the Court, relied on a
certain number of compromissory clauses in treaties. -2-
On the same day, 28 May 2002, the Congo submitted a request for the indication of
provisional measures.
The full text of the Court's Order of today will be available on the Court's website at the
following address: http://www.icj-cij.org.
Information Department:
Mr. Arthur Th. Witteveen, First Secretary of the Court (+31 70 302 23 36)
Mrs. Laurence Blairon and Mr. Boris Heim, Information Officers (+31 70 302 23 37)
Email address: [email protected]
Armed activities on the territory of the Congo (New Application: 2002) (Democratic Republic of the Congo v. Rwanda) - Fixing of time-limits for the filing of pleadings concerning the jurisdiction of the Court and the admissibility of the Application