Nearly two decades after first issuing an arrest warrant, the International Criminal Court (ICC) has begun hearings to confirm 39 charges against Joseph Kony, the elusive leader of the Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA).
The proceedings, which opened on September 9, 2025, at The Hague, mark the first time judges are hearing full arguments on the extensive war crimes and crimes against humanity allegations against one of the world’s most notorious fugitives.
The Charges
Over three days of hearings (September 9–11), ICC judges in Courtroom 1 will assess whether prosecutors have presented sufficient evidence to commit Kony to trial.
The 39 counts against him include:
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Enslavement under Article 7(1)(c).
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Forced marriage as a crime against humanity under Article 7(1)(k).
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Rape as both a crime against humanity and a war crime under Articles 7(1)(g) and 8(2)(e).
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Torture and cruel treatment of civilians under Articles 7(1)(f) and 8(2)(c).
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Conscripting and using children under 15 in hostilities under Article 8(2)(e)(7).
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Sexual slavery and forced pregnancy under Articles 7(1)(g) and 8(2)(e)(6).
Prosecutors allege that between 2002 and 2005, Kony directed a “common plan” with senior LRA commanders — including Vincent Otti and other brigade leaders — to terrorize civilians in northern Uganda. That plan, they say, involved abductions, mass killings, systemic sexual violence, and the destruction of villages suspected of supporting the government.
Justice Without the Accused
The hearings are taking place in absentia, as Kony remains at large. The dock at The Hague sits empty — a stark reminder of the ICC’s greatest frustration: that its first arrest warrant, issued in 2005, is still unexecuted.
Despite international manhunts and a $3 million U.S. bounty on his head, Kony has evaded capture for nearly two decades, moving between lawless border regions of Uganda, South Sudan, the Democratic Republic of Congo, and the Central African Republic.
Voices of Survivors
For survivors of the LRA’s bloody insurgency, the hearing is both historic and bittersweet.
“Many victims have already died, and others have lost hope of seeing their tormentor face earthly justice,” representatives told the court.
Tens of thousands of children were abducted during the LRA’s two-decade campaign of terror. Many were forced into combat, while girls were subjected to sexual slavery and coerced into “marriages” with commanders. Entire communities in northern Uganda were uprooted, leaving scars that remain today.
Why It Matters
While the confirmation hearings cannot deliver justice in themselves, they serve several key purposes:
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Preserving the record: By hearing victim testimony and evidence, the ICC formally documents atrocities for the historical record.
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Pressure to capture Kony: The hearings may renew international resolve to pursue him.
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Symbolic justice: Even without the accused in the dock, the process signals to victims that their suffering is not forgotten.
Analysts note that the case also tests the ICC’s credibility, as its longest-standing fugitive case continues to drag on with no arrest in sight.
The Road Ahead
If the judges find enough evidence to proceed, Kony will be formally committed to trial — a trial that cannot take place unless he is arrested.
For now, the ICC’s courtroom echoes with survivor testimonies and prosecutorial arguments, while the accused remains a shadow figure on the run.
For Ugandans who endured the LRA’s violence, the hearings are a reminder of both the slow grind of international justice and the resilience of those who continue to demand it.
