Ex-LRA rebel commander Ongwen starts defence today

Dominic Ongwen, the alleged former commander of Lord’s Resistance Army’s powerful Sinia Brigade

What you need to know:

  • Uganda turned Ongwen over to the ICC in January 2015 after he surrendered to the UPDF in Central African Republic jungles.

Dominic Ongwen, the alleged former commander of Lord’s Resistance Army’s powerful Sinia Brigade, is today set to commence defending himself before the International Criminal Court (ICC) over his alleged role in the two-decade war.
Thousands were killed and millions displaced during the insurgency that collapsed communities in northern Uganda.

Ongwen is facing 70 counts of war crimes and crimes against humanity, which were confirmed in March 2016 following a pre-hearing.
The former LRA commander is expected to commence his defence today at 9am, Hague time.
He will be appearing before a panel of three justices; Judge Bertram Schmitt (lead judge), Peter Kovacs and Raul C. Pangalangan
This follows prosecution’s closure of its case against the suspect in April.

The prosecution team led by Ms Fatou Bensouda, the ICC chief prosecutor, lined a total of 116 witnesses who testified against the former rebel leader.
Among those who testified against Ongwen were senior UPDF and intelligence officers, seven of his forced wives and victims of the war.
Ongwen is on trial for his alleged command role in attacks on four Internally-Displaced People’s (IDP) camps; Pajule, Abok, Lukodi and Odek in Gulu and Oyam districts between July 2002 and December 2005.

The three justices will take a break after listening to Ongwen’s defence, returning with their verdict on whether he is guilty or not.
Uganda turned Ongwen over to the ICC in January 2015 after he surrendered to the UPDF in Central African Republic jungles. He is the only one out of five top LRA commanders indicted by the ICC to face trial.
The group’s overall commander, Joseph Kony, remains at large.