In a significant development on Thursday, judges at the International Criminal Court (ICC) strengthened prosecutors’ pursuit of charges against fugitive Ugandan warlord Joseph Kony.
Kony, head of the Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA), remains the ICC’s longest-standing fugitive since an arrest warrant was issued in 2005 for 33 counts of war crimes and crimes against humanity.
In an interim decision, the judges granted prosecutors the ability to file a public document outlining the charges against Kony.
The ruling specified that, upon filing, all efforts must be made to inform Kony about the case before proceeding with a confirmation of charges hearing in absentia.
Last year, ICC prosecutor Karim Kahn sought a hearing in the case, aiming to provide a “meaningful milestone” for victims and to present the substantial evidence amassed against Kony by the prosecutor’s office.
Under Kony’s leadership, the LRA terrorized Uganda for nearly two decades, engaging in conflict with President Yoweri Museveni’s government from bases in northern Uganda and neighboring countries.
While the LRA has largely been eradicated, Kony remains at large.
The allegations against Kony encompass a range of serious crimes, including murder, cruel treatment, enslavement, rape, and attacks against the civilian population.
This recent development marks a significant step in the ongoing legal efforts to address the atrocities committed under Kony’s leadership.