Arrest Warrant of 11 April 2000
Assistant Judge Case Brief
Abstract
The Arrest Warrant of 11 April 2000 was an international warrant issued by the Belgian authorities for the arrest of four Congolese nationals, including the country's foreign minister, for their alleged involvement in the assassination of former Congolese President Laurent-Désiré Kabila. The warrant was issued on the basis of a complaint filed by the family of Kabila, who was killed in 2001 while visiting Belgium. The Congolese government denied the allegations and refused to extradite the suspects, leading to a diplomatic crisis between the two countries.
In 2002, the International Court of Justice (ICJ) ruled that the Belgian authorities had violated the Democratic Republic of Congo's sovereignty by issuing the warrant without first obtaining its consent. The Court also found that the warrant was not based on sufficient evidence and that the Congolese government had not been given a fair opportunity to defend itself. The ICJ ordered Belgium to withdraw the warrant and pay reparations to the Congolese government.
The Arrest Warrant of 11 April 2000 case is significant because it demonstrates the importance of respecting the sovereignty of other states and the need for due process in international law.
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