After almost 10 years on the run, one Ugandan rebel leader is finally in
the custody of the International Criminal Court (ICC). Dominic Ongwen,
of the infamous Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA), surrendered in early
January and was transferred to The Hague, where the ICC is based, on 20
January. Ongwen’s first appearance at the ICC was on 26 January, making
him the first LRA stalwart set to face trial for the group’s activities
at the ICC.
On 8 July 2005, the ICC issued an arrest warrant for Ongwen. He is
charged with three counts of crimes against humanity and four counts of
war crimes. His alleged crimes include murder, enslavement, inhumane
acts of inflicting serious bodily injury and suffering, cruel treatment
of civilians, intentionally directing an attack against a civilian
population and pillaging.
Speaking in Acholi, a language widely spoken by the people of northern
Uganda, Ongwen calmly confirmed his identity to Judge Ekaterina
Trendafilova of Pre-Trial Chamber II. The judge pronounced that she was
satisfied that Ongwen has been informed of the crimes which he is
alleged to have committed, and of his rights under the Statute –
including the right to be informed of the proceedings in Acholi as a
language that he fully understands and speaks.
Ongwen was transferred to the ICC despite Uganda having both the
capacity and willingness to prosecute him. It remains possible that
Ugandan authorities may challenge the admissibility of the case at the
ICC on this basis, however improbable.
Uganda is one of a few African countries that have criminalised war
crimes, crimes against humanity and genocide. Uganda has also
established a specialised judicial chamber to deal with, among others,
international crimes. The International Crimes Division (ICD) of the
High Court is the only judicial chamber of its kind in Africa
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