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THE HAGUE, Nov 7 (NNN-AGENCIES) — The Prosecutor’s Office of the International Criminal Court (ICC) has welcomed the Pre-Trial Chamber II’s decision confirming all 39 counts of war crimes and crimes against humanity against Ugandan warlord, Joseph Kony.
The charges comprise seven attacks on former Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) camps, the attack on the Lwala Girls Secondary School, and the systemic abductions and severe mistreatment of thousands of children, women, and girls. This is the first time that an ICC Pre-Trial Chamber has confirmed charges against a suspect in absentia.
The decision follows the confirmation of charges hearing held in Kony’s absence on Sept 9-10, 2025.
The development is a crucial step in holding Kony, leader of the Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA) rebels, accountable for the two-decade grave crimes attributed to him. After completion of this stage of the proceedings, the case will now proceed to the trial chamber. This ensures that Kony – once arrested – can immediately face trial on these charges.
The Office of the Prosecutor reiterated its unwavering commitment to pursuing justice for the victims of the crimes of the LRA and affected communities in northern Uganda.
“We will continue to work with partners and States to ensure that Kony is arrested and brought before the Court to face trial,” reads a statement from the prosecutor’s office.
In its decision, the PTC found that there are substantial grounds to believe that the elusive rebel commander is responsible for the charged crimes and that the case should therefore be transferred to trial. The decision is based on the evidence collected as part of a thorough investigation and the presentation of the Prosecution’s case in both written and oral submissions.
There are reportedly substantial grounds to believe that Kony is individually responsible for the enslavement and torture of thousands of women and children. It further confirmed that there are substantial grounds to believe that hundreds of women and girls were raped while in LRA captivity.
Further, the PTC accepted the charge of persecution on the grounds of the age of hundreds of children targeted by the LRA. In line with its Policies on Gender-based crimes and on Children, the effective investigation and prosecution of gender-based crimes and crimes against children is a strategic priority of the Office.
Efforts to track and secure Kony’s arrest remain ongoing. The Office once again calls on all States and relevant partners to intensify their cooperation in executing the outstanding arrest warrant issued in 2005. — NNN-AGENCIES
