The International Criminal Court (ICC) has begun the confirmation of charges hearing against Joseph Kony, the founder and leader of the Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA), in his absence.
The two-day hearing, held before Pre-Trial Chamber III, kicked off today, with the Prosecution, Defence, and Legal Representatives of Victims presenting oral submissions to the judges. The panel is composed of Judge Althea Violet Alexis-Windsor (Presiding Judge), Judge Iulia Motoc, and Judge Haykel Ben Mahfoudh.
The purpose of the hearing is to determine whether there is sufficient evidence to establish substantial grounds to believe that Kony committed each of the crimes charged. If the judges confirm one or more of the charges, the case will proceed to the Trial Chamber for the next phase of the proceedings.
A Warrant of Arrest for Joseph Kony was first issued under seal by the ICC on 8 July 2005, amended on 27 September 2005, and later unsealed on 13 October 2005. Kony has been a fugitive for nearly two decades.
He is suspected of multiple counts of crimes against humanity and war crimes, allegedly committed in 2003 and 2004 in northern Uganda.
These include: Crimes Against Humanity: Murder and attempted murder, Enslavement, Forced marriage, Rape, Torture, Severe abuse and mistreatment, Forced pregnancy and Persecution.
War Crimes: Murder and attempted murder, Torture and cruel treatment of civilians, Intentionally directing attacks against civilian populations, Pillaging and destruction of property, Rape and sexual slavery, Forced pregnancy and Conscription and use of child soldiers in hostilities.
On 12 December 2024, the Pre-Trial Chamber scheduled the confirmation of charges hearing to begin on 9 September 2025, despite Kony’s continued absence. On 3 June 2025, the ICC Appeals Chamber confirmed the criteria for conducting confirmation of charges hearings in absentia, setting a historic precedent for such proceedings.
This development reflects the ICC’s commitment to pursue accountability even in the absence of a suspect, ensuring that victims’ voices are heard and the legal process moves forward.
