Ongwen trial at ICC starts today
The trial of the former Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA) commander, Maj Gen Dominic Ongwen (C) has today appeared before the International Criminal Court (ICC) at the Hague, Netherlands
Kampala. The trial of the former Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA) commander, Maj Gen Dominic Ongwen starts today at the International Criminal Court (ICC) at the Hague, Netherlands.
The trial, before the single judge of Pre-Trial Chamber II, will be telecast live. The ICC public affairs unit in a statement indicated that Ekaterina Trendafilova, a Bulgarian judge, will preside over the hearing. The ICC outreach department will host a live telecast event for the media at Hotel African starting at 4pm prompt.
Maj Gen Ongwen will make his first appearance in the Pre-trial chamber where charges of crimes against humanity will be read to him.
The 35-year-old rebel commander, who surrendered early this month near Samouandja province in Southeast Central African Republic (CAR), was indicted by ICC in 2005 for war crimes allegedly committed during the LRA rebellion largely fought in Northern Uganda.
The two decades of insurgency later spilled over to South Sudan, DR Congo and CAR. Court officials said last week that Ongwen will be represented by Ms Hélène Cisse, a Senegalese lawyer.
He is, however, entitled to a lawyer of his choice.
Background
Ongwen was born to two school teachers; Mr Ronald Owiya and Ms Alexy Acayo in Paibona village, Awach Sub-county in Gulu District. The fourth born of eight children was aged six when the LRA insurgency erupted and was 10 years old when he was abducted on his way from school in 1990. He was placed under the mentorship of Vincent Otti, another senior LRA commander who was reportedly killed in 2007 on orders of Joseph Kony.
