The International Criminal Court (ICC) has announced the closure of its investigations into alleged crimes against humanity and war crimes committed by five Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA) commanders in Uganda.
ICC prosecutor Karim A.A. Khan KC explained that the investigations were terminated because Pre-Trial Chamber II stopped proceedings against Raska Lukwiya, Okot Odhiambo, and Vincent Otti due to their deaths. Meanwhile, Dominic Ongwen had been convicted, and Joseph Kony, the leader of the LRA, remained at large.
In a statement released by Khan on December 1, 2023, he emphasized that closing the investigation in Uganda didn’t signify the end of the ICC’s involvement in the situation. The focus would now shift towards ensuring the successful prosecution of Joseph Kony. Collaborative efforts with the ICC Registry and relevant partners would persist to secure Kony’s arrest.
Khan stressed the necessity of sustained engagement from national, regional, and international actors, civil society organizations, and others in the pursuit of accountability. As part of this decision, the ICC Office would seek to enhance cooperation with Ugandan national institutions to strengthen accountability efforts.
Uganda ratified the Rome Statute in June 2002, becoming the first state to voluntarily refer a situation to the ICC. This referral invited the prosecutor to investigate alleged grave crimes in northern Uganda, where the government had been combating the LRA for many years.
Since the opening of the investigation in 2004, the ICC Office has worked independently and impartially in partnership with national authorities, affected communities, victims, and civil society organizations. The Office sought arrest warrants against five suspects, including Lukwiya, Odhiambo, Otti, Ongwen, and Kony, for their roles in LRA atrocities.
However, proceedings against Lukwiya, Odhiambo, and Otti were terminated due to their deaths. Dominic Ongwen was successfully prosecuted and convicted for crimes against humanity and war crimes, with a focus on sexual and gender-based crimes and crimes against children.
Currently, Joseph Kony remains the only suspect at large in the Uganda situation. Efforts to bring him to justice have continued, with requests for hearings to confirm charges against him in absentia. The ICC Office remains committed to pursuing these proceedings.
