Remarks on the role of equity in determining war reparations before the International Court of Justice

This article examines the role of equity in determining war reparations before the International Court of Justice (ICJ), with a focus on the 2022 Reparations Judgment in Armed Activities on the Territory of the Congo (Democratic Republic of the Congo v Uganda). The ICJ awarded the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) US$325 million in compensation, a sum significantly lower than the amount requested. The judgment raised concerns among scholars and judges regarding the limited reasoning provided for the calculation of reparations and the extent to which equity influenced the final decision. The article explores the distinction between decisions based on equitable considerations and those rendered ex aequo et bono, arguing that the ICJ’s approach reflects an implicit reliance on extra-legal factors, such as the economic condition of the responsible state and the transactional dimension of the dispute. The analysis highlights the flexibility of equity as a judicial tool to adapt legal principles to complex war reparation cases while underscoring the challenges it poses for legal certainty and transparency. The article concludes that while equity serves as a pragmatic means of resolving disputes, the ICJ should further develop its methodology to enhance predictability and legitimacy in war reparations adjudication.