Joseph Kony, leader of the Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA), is facing renewed charges from the International Criminal Court (ICC) as the court confirmed 39 counts of war crimes and crimes against humanity against him, including murder and the use of child soldiers. An arrest warrant for Kony has been in place since 2005, but he remains elusive, reportedly hiding in the Central African Republic.
Survivors of the LRA’s violent campaigns, which included abductions and atrocities committed against civilians in Uganda, have expressed their support for the ICC’s actions. Evelyn Amon, abducted as a child and forced into servitude by Kony, emphasized the need for justice to help other victims gain compensation. She spent 11 years with the LRA and has been vocal about her hope that Kony’s charges might lead to his capture.
In related testimonies, Patrick Ochieng, born during his mother’s captivity, also urged the need for Kony to be arrested, stating that many victims are aging or dying without receiving justice. He recounted the turmoil caused by the LRA as he and countless others were forced into a life of conflict and violence.
The LRA, originally formed in the late 1980s, claimed to seek a government grounded in the biblical Ten Commandments but became infamous for its brutal tactics, including mutilations and sexual slavery. While the group was largely pushed out of Uganda in 2005, it has since continued operations in regions like the Democratic Republic of Congo and South Sudan.
Attempts to negotiate peace with Kony failed, particularly when assurances against prosecution were not guaranteed. Kony gained international attention in 2012 due to social media campaigns highlighting his actions, leading to U.S. offers of rewards for information on his whereabouts. Despite extensive searches and military efforts, he remains a fugitive, leaving many victims desiring accountability through the ICC process.
Source: https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cg430z7dg04o?at_medium=RSS&at_campaign=rss