After one year of investigations and three intense days of hearings, the jury of the Congo Tribunal responds as follows to the core issues that were presented publicly by the chief investigator during the Opening Session on 29 May 2015.

Have interethnic conflicts and attacks by armed groups in the east of the country become uncontrollable to such a degree that the government and the Congolese army (that is recovering from 20 years of conflict in the country) frequently fail in their attempts to restore order?

NO. It is our judgment that the ethnic conflicts would be controllable if there were adequate political will and accountability for power.

Are the government of the DRC and the Congolese army actors in the systematic attacks against the local population by intentionally keeping the region in perpetual disorder and insecurity, whether it is through active collaboration with armed groups or simply by being passive?

YES. We feel that some elements of the military and certain political leaders in the DRC are actors in the systematic attacks against the local population, but they are certainly not the only ones. The government of the DRC has a share of responsibility for the disorder and insecurity due to its shortcomings and its passivity.

Do the international community and the MONUSCO troops stationed in eastern Congo contribute to the political stabilization and to the security in this region by building a government and a weak army, albeit one that is recovering?

YES. It is our judgment that the "international community" through the intermediary of MONUSCO contributes to the political stabilization and security in the region, but not in a meaningful way. If the political will were there, it could certainly do more, and do it more effectively and efficiently. Too often it is guilty of not assisting people who are at risk.

Also check out the press coverage from TAZ, ORF, SWR and VOICE OF AMERICA