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Investigators from the International Criminal Court have arrived in the Democratic Republic of Congo to begin their first probe into allegations of serious violations of international law in the country over the last two years, UN spokeswoman Marie Okabe said on Tuesday.
The investigators are expected to hold closed door meetings with representatives of the Congolese government, civil society, as well as international organisations, she told reporters in New York.
The Court's chief prosecutor, Luis Moreno-Ocampo, also said on 23 June that the Court would begin by looking into the crimes that had allegedly been committed in the Congo since 1 July 2002.
In September 2003, Moreno-Ocampo said there were connections between crimes committed in Congo’s northeastern district of Ituri and businesses operating in Europe, Asia and North America. He pledged to investigate the matter to determine the level of involvement of these businesses in commissioning crimes.
"The investigation of the financial aspects of the atrocities allegedly committed in Ituri will be crucial to prevent future crimes and for the prosecution of crimes already committed," he said.
He added that the investigation might "contribute to the ongoing peace process and ultimately yield stability for the DRC, fostering not just political stability but also healthy markets".
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