INTERNATIONAL COURT OF JUSTICE
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Website: www.icj-cij.org
Press Release
Unofficial
No. 1999/49
26 November 1999
Ahmadou Sadio Diallo
(Republic of Guinea v. Democratic Republic of the Congo)
The Court fixes time-limits for the filing of written pleadings
THE HAGUE, 26 November 1999. The International Court of Justice (ICJ) has fixed
time-limits for the filing of written pleadingin the case concerning Ahmadou Sadio Diallo
(Republic of Guinea v. Democratic Republic of the Congo).
In an Order dated 25November1999, the Court fixed 11September2000 as the time-limit
for the filing of a Memorial by the Republic of Guinea and 11 September 2001 as the time-limit for
the filing of a Counter-Memorial by the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
The Court fixed those time-limits taking account of the agreement of the Parties.
The Rules of Court provide that, in a case unilaterally brought by one State against another
State (by means of an application), a Memorial is filed by the Applicant (the Republic of Guinea in
this case) to which the Respondent (the Democratic Republic of the Congo) files a
Counter-Memorial. The Court may authorize the filing of additional written pleadings. Upon the
closure of the written phase, public hearings are organized. The Court then delivers a Judgment.
Background information
On 30December1998, the Republic of Guin ea instituted proceedings before the Court
against the Democratic Republic of the Congo in r espect of a dispute originating in claims by the
former of serious violations of internationalaw by the latter against the person of a Guinean
national.
According to the Republic of Guinea, Mr .AhmadouSadioDiallo, a businessman who had
been a resident of the Democratic Republic of Congo for 32 years, was “unlawfully imprisoned by
the authorities of that State” during two and a half months, “divested from his important
investments, companies, bank accounts, movable and immovable properties, then expelled” on
2February1996 as a result of his attempts to recover sums owed to him by the Democratic
Republic of Congo (especially by Gécamines, a St ate enterprise with a monopoly with regard to
mining) and by oil companies operating in that co untry (Zaïre Shell, Zaïre Mobil and Zaïre Fina)
by virtue of contracts concluded with businesses owned by him, Africom-Zaïre and
Africontainers-Zaïre. - 2 -
As a basis of the Court’s jurisdiction, th e Republic of Guinea invoked the declarations by
which it and the Democratic Republic of Congo accepted the compulsory jurisdiction of the Court.
The Republic of Guinea deposited such a declaration on 11November1998 with the
Secretary-General of the United Nations; the Demo cratic Republic of Congo (the former Zaïre) on
8 February 1989.
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The full text of the Court’s Order will soon be available on the Court’s website at the
following address: http://www.icj-cij.org
____________
Information Office:
Mr. Arthur Witteveen, Secretary of the Court (tel: + 31 70 302 2336)
Mrs. Laurence Blairon, Information Officer (tel: + 31 70 302 2337)
E-mail address: [email protected]
Ahmadou Sadio Diallo (Republic of Guinea v. Democratic Republic of Congo) - The Court fixes time-limits for the filing of written pleadings