UN court orders Uganda to pay Congo $325m war damages
The International Court of Justice (ICJ) has ordered Uganda to pay $325million to the Democratic Republic of Congo.
The United Nations (UN) organ, also known as World Court, said the payment was for damages inflicted in the Ituri resource-rich province from 1998 to 2003.
Uganda is expected pay in five annual installments through 2026, judges ruled in The Hague on Wednesday.
Congo had demanded $11billion dollars as compensation. An appeal is not possible in the decided case.
The court declared that Uganda broke international law with killings, sexual violence, recruitment of child soldiers and the displacement of people.
The country and Rwanda then occupied Ituri and backed armed militias in search for the remaining perpetrators of the genocide.
The ICJ set $225million for personal injuries; $40million for damage to infrastructure and buildings.
Uganda will also pay Congo $60million for looting of natural resources including gold, diamonds and ores.
The court had directed the countries to negotiate the cost of reparations but Congo resumed the legal battle in 2015 after talks failed.
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