LA COUR PÉNALE INTERNATIONALE ET LA CONSTRUCTION DE LA PAIX EN ITURI : ENTRE LUTTE CONTRE L'IMPUNITE ET PERSISTANCE DES DYNAMIQUES CONFLICTUELLES

Abstract

The Ituri province, located in the northeast of the Democratic Republic of Congo, has been deeply affected by armed conflicts involving serious violations of international humanitarian law and human rights. Confronted with the failure of national courts to prosecute the main perpetrators, the International Criminal Court (ICC) intervened to break the cycle of impunity and support the fragile process of peacebuilding. This study highlights that the convictions of Thomas Lubanga Dyilo, Germain Katanga, and Bosco Ntaganda represent a significant advance in individual criminal accountability and the recognition of victims. However, these judicial achievements have not been sufficient to halt the ongoing dynamics of violence. The persistence of armed clashes, the emergence of new rebel groups, land disputes, community tensions, illegal resource exploitation, state weakness, and socio-economic precarity continue to fuel chronic instability. The analysis demonstrates that while international criminal justice is essential, it must be embedded within a comprehensive strategy combining institutional strengthening, development, community reconciliation, and inclusive governance to foster sustainable peace.