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Kony has been charged with orchestrating attacks on eight former internally displaced persons (IDP) camps
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LIRA - The International Criminal Court (ICC) has reaffirmed its commitment to arrest Joseph Kony, the elusive leader of the Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA), to face charges for crimes committed during the insurgency in northern Uganda. “I want to emphasize that it is truly our main priority to have him arrested. Without his arrest or surrender, we cannot proceed with the trial,” stated Dahirou Sant Anna, an international cooperation advisor in the ICC prosecutor’s office, during a stakeholders’ dialogue in Lira City on Friday.
Anna noted that in January, as part of confirmation-in-absentia proceedings, the ICC reexamined evidence collected since the arrest warrant for Kony was issued in 2005.
“We have charged him with orchestrating attacks on eight former internally displaced persons (IDP) camps: Barlonyo, Abia, Pagak, Pajule, Odek, Abok, Lwala Girls Secondary School in Kaberamaido, and Lukodi camp in Omoro District,” she said.
The charges include the systematic abduction of children under 18, the sexual enslavement and abuse of women and girls, and the conscription of children under 15 as soldiers. “Children born during captivity and as a result of war-related sexual violence are also considered direct victims of crimes like enslavement, torture, and cruel treatment,” Anna added.
Proposal to hold Kony’s trial in Uganda
Anna revealed that the ICC is exploring the possibility of holding Kony’s trial in Uganda to reflect the gravity and scope of the atrocities committed.
“It could be in Lira, Gulu, or Kampala. The decision is yet to be finalized, but if approved, the ICC Registry will assess feasibility regarding security, logistics, and other factors,” she explained.
Leonie van Braun, a senior trial lawyer in the prosecutor’s office, supported the idea, saying, “Holding the hearing in Uganda would be impactful. It would allow direct engagement with victims and affected communities. For the first time in ICC history, judges could visit crime sites.”
Joseph Kony
Local leaders demand broader charges
While commending the ICC’s efforts, local leaders called for an expansion of charges to cover additional atrocities, including the abduction of 139 girls from St. Mary’s College, Aboke, in 1996.
“Kony should be charged for all atrocities committed in northern Uganda, not just those at the eight sites mentioned,” urged Bishop Silvano Ogwal of the Pentecostal Church of Uganda.
Background
The ICC issued an arrest warrant for Kony on July 8, 2005, which was unsealed on October 13, 2005. He faces 12 counts of crimes against humanity and 21 counts of war crimes, including murder, rape, and forced conscription of children. These charges relate to atrocities committed in northern Uganda between 2003 and 2004.
Kony remains at large, and his capture is essential for justice and accountability for the victims of his brutal reign.
Torch Media Africa
