According to Reuters, judges at the International Criminal Court (ICC) have provided support to prosecutors seeking a hearing on charges against Ugandan warlord Joseph Kony, who has been on the run for several years.
Kony, known for founding and leading the Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA), has been a fugitive from the ICC since 2005, when an arrest warrant was issued against him for 33 counts of war crimes and crimes against humanity.
In a preliminary ruling, the judges decided that prosecutors could submit a public document outlining the charges they intend to bring against Kony.
Following the filing of this document, the judges will need to ensure that all possible measures are taken to inform Kony of the case against him before they can proceed with a confirmation of charges hearing in his absence, the ruling stated.
Last year, ICC prosecutor Karim Khan requested a hearing in the Kony case to provide a “significant milestone” for the victims and to present the substantial evidence gathered against Kony by his office.
Under Kony’s leadership, the LRA terrorized the people of Uganda for nearly two decades as it fought against the government of President Yoweri Museveni from its bases in northern Uganda and neighboring countries. The group has since been largely eradicated.
The allegations against Kony include murder, cruel treatment, enslavement, rape, and attacks on the civilian population.
(Reporting by Stephanie van den Berg; Editing by Gareth Jones)
