The International Criminal Court (ICC) has ruled that the confirmation of charges hearing against fugitive Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA) leader Joseph Kony will not be held in Uganda. Instead, the Pre-Trial Chamber has insisted that the proceedings take place in The Hague, Netherlands.
The ruling, issued on February 20, follows a request by the ICC prosecutor to hold the hearing in Uganda, citing the need to bring the Court closer to victims and affected communities. However, the Pre-Trial Chamber denied the request, citing financial constraints and potential security risks associated with transferring parts of the Court’s operations to the field.
The decision comes as a bench of five judges prepares to rule on an appeal by Kony’s Defence Team, challenging the legality of holding a hearing in the absence of a suspect who has not made an initial appearance before the Court. With the appeal pending before the ICC Appeals Chamber, it remains unclear whether the scheduled September 9 hearing will proceed.
Last year, representatives from both the prosecution and Kony’s defence team visited northern Uganda, particularly Gulu and Lira, to assess court facilities. They also engaged with local leaders and victim representatives, who supported holding the hearing closer to affected communities to enhance victim participation.
Kony, who waged a brutal insurgency in northern Uganda from 1986, is accused of 36 counts of war crimes and crimes against humanity, including murder, abductions, and forced recruitment of child soldiers. He was indicted by the ICC in 2005 along with five other LRA commanders. Despite a $5 million bounty placed on his head by the U.S. Department of State, he remains at large.
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