THE HAGUE, Netherlands — The prosecutor of the International Criminal Court announced on Monday the revival of investigations in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, specifically targeting allegations of crimes occurring in the conflict-riddled North Kivu province since the beginning of 2022.

Eastern Congo has a longstanding issue with numerous armed groups, with estimates exceeding 120, who are competing for control over the region’s valuable gold and other resources. This has triggered extensive humanitarian challenges, leading to over 7 million individuals being displaced, many of whom are inaccessible to humanitarian aid.

Among these armed groups, the M23 has been particularly active. This group became well-known over a decade ago when it captured Goma, the largest city in eastern Congo located near the Rwandan border. The name M23 signifies the March 23, 2009, peace agreement that they claim the Congolese government has failed to honor.

In August, a significant breach of the cease-fire—established to assist the millions that have been displaced—occurred as clashes between the rebels and government-backed militias resulted in the deaths of 16 villagers.

The ICC’s investigation into the Congo first commenced two decades ago, catalyzed by the protracted conflicts in the region. More recently, in 2022, the Congolese government formally requested the ICC to investigate the activities of armed groups in North Kivu starting January 1st of that year.

In his statement, prosecutor Karim Khan highlighted that the recent violence in North Kivu is linked to ongoing patterns of conflict that have troubled the area since mid-2002. Consequently, these new allegations are integrated within the existing investigation framework.

Khan further emphasized that his investigation in North Kivu would not be restricted to specific parties or representatives of particular groups. Instead, his team aims to study the situation comprehensively, independently, and impartially to determine the responsibility of all parties believed to have committed crimes that fall under the court’s jurisdiction.

In previous actions, the ICC has secured convictions against three rebels in the Ituri region of eastern Congo, which included the notorious warlord Bosco Ntaganda, famously dubbed “The Terminator.” He was found guilty of serious offenses comprising murder, rape, and sexual slavery, with his convictions and 30-year sentence confirmed by appeal judges in 2021.