International Criminal Court (ICC) judges on Tuesday, September 9, began hearings to finalise charges against fugitive Ugandan warlord Joseph Kony, Reuters reported. Kony, the leader of the rebel Lord's Resistance Army (LRA), is the ICC's longest-standing fugitive. An arrest warrant was issued against him in 2005. ALSO READ: Regional countries join hunt for Kony Deputy prosecutor Mame Mandiaye Niang said ICC prosecutors want to charge him with 39 counts of war crimes and crimes against humanity, including murder, rape, using child soldiers, sexual slavery and forced pregnancy, between 2002 and 2005. All these crimes were committed by the LRA under the command of Joseph Kony, Niang told the court, adding that the children of northern Uganda lived in constant fear of attack and abductions during the LRA's systemic violence. ALSO READ: AU, UN take stand against Kony In 2022, the ICC prosecutor's office announced that it wanted to revive the case by having confirmation of charges hearings without Kony present. After renewed efforts to find Kony failed, judges allowed in absentia hearings. At Monday's hearings, court-appointed lawyers representing Kony's interests said having the confirmation hearings without the LRA leader present hampered their work and violated his right to a fair trial.
