Responsibility of States for Internationally Wrongful Acts
(hereinafter referred to as ‘the ILC Articles’) as
reported
in
the Yearbook of the International Law Commission, 2001, vol. II
(Part Two). Mr. Gimara presented a two-dimensional facet to
his contention that the conduct of the Commission was
attributable to the State of Rwanda. First, learned Counsel
argued that the Commission was an organ of the State of
Rwanda within the precincts of Article 4 of the ILC Articles.
Secondly, he asserted that the
Commission
had
been
empowered by the internal laws of Rwanda to exercise
elements of governmental authority and therefore its actions
were attributable to Rwanda under Article 5 of the ILC Articles.
10. Conversely, it was argued for the Respondent that the
application of the ILC Articles was restricted to inter-State
disputes and did not extend to a case initiated by a
corporate person, as was the case presently. Learned Counsel
for the Respondent did also contend that although the ILC
Articles were indeed recognized customary international law,
they did not take precedence over the Treaty which, in his
view, is codified international law binding upon the EAC Partner
States. Further, it was Mr. Malala’s argument that the internal
law of Rwanda designated the Mayor of Kigali City as the
rightful party to disputes such as the present one, rather than
the present Respondent. Counsel cited the case of Modern
Holdings Limited vs. Kenya Ports Authority EACJ Reference No. 1
of 2008 in support of his contention that it was only the acts of
Partner State that could be litigated before this Court and not
those of bodies such as the Commission whose actions are in
issue presently.
REFERENCE No. 10 OF 2013
Page 5