Front Uni pour la RDC says it submitted material to the Office of the Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court in The Hague naming Rwandan President Paul Kagame, former DRC president Joseph Kabila and three AFC/M23 leaders over alleged crimes committed in eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo.
THE HAGUE, Netherlands — September 18, 2026 — A Belgium-based Congolese diaspora organization says it has submitted a dossier to the Office of the Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court (ICC) naming Rwandan President Paul Kagame, former Congolese president Joseph Kabila, and AFC/M23 leaders Corneille Nangaa, Bertrand Bisimwa and Sultani Makenga in connection with alleged crimes in eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo.
The organization, Front Uni pour la RDC, says the material was delivered in The Hague on September 16, 2026. Congolese media began reporting the development the following day.
Actu30 reported that the group described the alleged conduct as war crimes, crimes against humanity and genocide, including allegations involving massacres, torture, sexual violence, enforced disappearances and forced displacement.
What Front Uni says it submitted
According to Actu30 and other Congolese outlets that reported the filing, Front Uni says its dossier contains material concerning alleged abuses in several areas of eastern DRC, including Goma, Bukavu, Rutshuru, Masisi, Nyiragongo, Lubero, Walikale, Kalehe, Kabare and Walungu.
The organization says it named Sultani Makenga in connection with the military leadership of M23, Bertrand Bisimwa in connection with M23's political leadership and Corneille Nangaa as leader of the Congo River Alliance, or AFC.
Front Uni also accuses Paul Kagame of political and military support for the AFC/M23 coalition and alleges that Joseph Kabila played a supporting role.
A filing to the ICC is not the same as an ICC case
The legal status of the submission is important.
JUSTICE & CRIME
Congolese Group Files ICC Communication Naming Kagame, Kabila
Sep 18, 2026
Sep 18, 2026
6 min read
Published
Updated:
Front Uni pour la RDC says it submitted material to the Office of the Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court in The Hague naming Rwandan President Paul Kagame, former DRC president Joseph Kabila and three AFC/M23 leaders over alleged crimes committed in eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo.
THE HAGUE, Netherlands — September 18, 2026 — A Belgium-based Congolese diaspora organization says it has submitted a dossier to the Office of the Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court (ICC) naming Rwandan President Paul Kagame, former Congolese president Joseph Kabila, and AFC/M23 leaders Corneille Nangaa, Bertrand Bisimwa and Sultani Makenga in connection with alleged crimes in eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo.
The organization, Front Uni pour la RDC, says the material was delivered in The Hague on September 16, 2026. Congolese media began reporting the development the following day.
Actu30 reported that the group described the alleged conduct as war crimes, crimes against humanity and genocide, including allegations involving massacres, torture, sexual violence, enforced disappearances and forced displacement.
What Front Uni says it submitted
According to Actu30 and other Congolese outlets that reported the filing, Front Uni says its dossier contains material concerning alleged abuses in several areas of eastern DRC, including Goma, Bukavu, Rutshuru, Masisi, Nyiragongo, Lubero, Walikale, Kalehe, Kabare and Walungu.
The organization says it named Sultani Makenga in connection with the military leadership of M23, Bertrand Bisimwa in connection with M23's political leadership and Corneille Nangaa as leader of the Congo River Alliance, or AFC.
Front Uni also accuses Paul Kagame of political and military support for the AFC/M23 coalition and alleges that Joseph Kabila played a supporting role.
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A filing to the ICC is not the same as an ICC case
The legal status of the submission is important.
Congolese reports have commonly described the move as a "complaint" or plainte. Under ICC procedure, however, individuals, groups and non-governmental organizations may submit information about alleged crimes to the Prosecutor under Article 15 of the Rome Statute.
The ICC's own Office of the Prosecutor submission portal explains that any individual, group, state, intergovernmental organization or NGO may provide such information. These submissions are commonly referred to as Article 15 communications.
The Prosecutor then assesses the information to determine whether it concerns conduct within the Court's jurisdiction, whether it relates to an existing situation or investigation and whether further analysis is warranted.
As of publication, the ICC has not publicly announced what action, if any, it will take in response to Front Uni's filing.
Delegation also held a sit-in outside the Court
Actu30 reported that after delivering the material, members of the Front Uni delegation held a sit-in outside the ICC headquarters in The Hague.
A statement was reportedly read by Sonny Kabeya Mukanya, identified by the organization as its secretary-general.
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Front Uni also called on Congolese authorities to strengthen cooperation with the ICC and support international judicial examination of alleged crimes committed in eastern DRC.
Who is Front Uni pour la RDC?
Front Uni pour la RDC describes itself as a Congolese diaspora organization founded in Belgium and active across the Benelux and other Francophone Congolese communities.
Its official website identifies the group as a non-profit association focused on sovereignty, civilian protection, international advocacy, justice and combating impunity.
The organization says one of its core priorities is documenting alleged crimes against civilians and advocating before international institutions.
Its public activities have included advocacy in European institutions, political discussions within the diaspora and assistance to families of Congolese soldiers and wounded military personnel.
ICC already has a long-running DRC situation
The new communication arrives against the background of the ICC's longstanding work in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
The Situation in the Democratic Republic of the Congo is one of the Court's longest-running investigations. The ICC has previously prosecuted individuals including Thomas Lubanga, Germain Katanga and Bosco Ntaganda for crimes connected to conflicts in the country.
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The Office of the Prosecutor has also said that alleged crimes within the scope of the DRC situation have continued to be reported and that it has worked with Congolese authorities on accountability for international crimes.
In its Policy on Complementarity and Cooperation, the Prosecutor's office described the DRC as one of the Court's longest-open investigations and noted ongoing work concerning alleged crimes and cooperation with national authorities.
Whether the information submitted by Front Uni becomes relevant to an existing ICC investigation, triggers further analysis or leads to no further action will depend on the Prosecutor's assessment.
What happens next
The immediate next step lies with the Office of the Prosecutor.
Under Article 15 procedures, prosecutors may screen the material, compare it with information already in their possession and determine whether it falls within the Court's jurisdiction or an existing investigative framework.
There is no automatic timetable for a public response to an Article 15 communication.
Front Uni says it wants the allegations examined as part of wider efforts to end impunity for violence in eastern Congo. Whether the submission produces any formal ICC action remains to be seen.
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