ICC opens hearings against fugitive warlord Joseph Kony
Kony Faces 39 Counts of War Crimes and Crimes Against Humanity in The Hague
Elohim Nyame 
The International Criminal Court (ICC) has begun hearings against fugitive Ugandan warlord Joseph Kony, nearly two decades after issuing its first arrest warrant for him.
On Tuesday, judges in The Hague opened proceedings on 39 charges of war crimes and crimes against humanity, including murder, rape, sexual slavery, and pillaging. Kony, leader of the Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA), is accused of orchestrating an insurgency that killed more than 100,000 people and displaced millions across central Africa.
The LRA is notorious for abducting some 60,000 children, many of whom were forced into combat or sexual slavery. Its atrocities extended beyond Uganda into Sudan, South Sudan, the Democratic Republic of Congo, and the Central African Republic.
Kony, who remains at large, has been one of the world’s most elusive fugitives. Despite international manhunts and a high-profile campaign in 2012 to raise global awareness of his crimes, he has evaded capture for decades.
The ICC confirmed that this marks its first-ever hearing in absentia. Judges stressed that the move is intended to ensure that, should Kony be apprehended, a trial can proceed swiftly.
Human rights groups welcomed the development, calling it a vital step in keeping the spotlight on the victims of the LRA’s atrocities. “Even in his absence, these hearings send a powerful message that justice cannot be delayed indefinitely,” said a spokesperson for Amnesty International.
Uganda’s government, which referred Kony to the ICC in 2005, also reiterated its support for international efforts to bring him to justice. However, questions remain over his whereabouts and whether he still commands active fighters.
For survivors of the LRA’s brutal campaign, the hearings represent a long-awaited recognition of their suffering, even as they continue to hope for Kony’s capture.
