The Peace Palace where the International Court of Justice is located on the outskirts of The Hague, the Netherlands. /CFP Photo
The Peace Palace where the International Court of Justice is located on the outskirts of The Hague, the Netherlands. /CFP Photo
The United Nations' top court on Wednesday ordered Uganda to pay the Democratic Republic of Congo $325m in reparations over a brutal 1998-2003 war between the two nations.
The International Court of Justice chief judge Joan Donoghue said Uganda must pay $225m for damage to persons, $40m for damage to property, and $60 for damage to natural resources.
The long-running dispute was first brought to the court in 1999, more than 20 years ago.
The conflict drew in nine African countries, with Uganda and Rwanda backing rebel forces against the DR Congo government as they jostled for control of the country's mineral-rich eastern region of Ituri.
The ICJ in 2005 ruled that Uganda had violated international law by occupying parts of Ituri with its troops and supporting other armed groups during the war.
Initially, the Hague-based court ordered the two countries to negotiate reparations, but in 2015 the DR Congo returned to the tribunal saying there had been no progress in the talks.
The ICJ rules in disputes between countries, and its decisions are final and cannot be appealed.
(With input from agencies)