The Tanzania-based African Court of Human Rights says it's competent to hear a case brought by the Democratic Republic of the Congo against Rwanda
The ruling opens the door to a full hearing into Kinshasa's claims of human rights abuses linked to the long-running conflict in eastern Congo
Kigali claimed that national and regional processes hadn't been fully exhausted, making the referral to the Court of Human Rights premature
But the court's 11 judges unanimously rejected the argument and instead invited Rwanda to submit its responses on the merits within 90 days
The ruling comes as the DRC and Rwanda prepare to sign a US-brokered peace treaty in Washington on Friday
The agreement involves provisions on respect for territorial integrity and the disarmament of non-state armed groups
Congo has been ripped apart by conflict with rebels. With more than 7 million people displaced
the United Nations has called it one of the most serious humanitarian crises on Earth