The Procedure of the International Court of Justice

Whereas, at the conclusion of its Written Observations, the Congo submitted in the further alternative that: “it would not be appropriate, on the basis of considerations of expediency deriving from the requirements of the sound administration of justice, to join the Ugandan claims to the proceedings on the merits pursuant to Article 80, paragraph 3, of the Rules of Court”; and whereas the Court, having found that the first and second counter—claims submitted by Uganda are directly connected with the subject—matter of the Congo's claims, takes the view that, on the contrary, the sound administration of justice and the interests of procedural economy call for the simultaneous consideration of those counter—claims and the principal claims;