We are pleased to present the 6th issue of 2026 of John Lukacs Analyses on Global Affairs: 2026/6.Genocide “á la mode”?
Key insights from this analysis include:
- On the 26 June 2026, the Democratic Republic of the Congo made its third attempt to start a procedure against Rwanda in front of the International Court of Justice (ICJ) for mass violation of human right, that amount to genocide. Since 2019, this is the fifth application submitted to the ICJ based on Art. IX of the Genocide Convention.
- Although the ICJ has faced considerable criticism, there is currently no other forum capable of establishing state responsibility for the commission of genocide. The ICJ is therefore a “make-do” solution.
- However, the rise in the number of genocide cases may carry the risk that the number of States Parties to the Genocide Convention will stagnate, that the number of reservations will not decrease, and that some States may even denounce the Convention.
- The DRC to succeed in this procedure needs to prove that genocidal acts were committed by militia members on the instruction or under the direction or control of Rwanda with the aim to physically destroy the targeted groups mentioned in the application.
You can read the full paper on the John Lukacs Institute website.