The International Criminal Court (ICC) found Dominic Ongwen guilty of “a total of 61 crimes, comprising both crimes against humanity and war crimes” committed in Northern Uganda between 1 July 2002 and 31 December 2005. Speaking in the Hague today (04 Feb), Presiding Judge Bertram Schmitt said, “Dominic Ongwen has been found guilty beyond reasonable doubt of a number of crimes committed in the context of the four specified attacks on the IDP camps of Pajule, Odek, Lukodi and Abok – attacks against the civilian population, murder, attempted murder, torture, enslavement, outrages upon personal dignity, pillaging, destruction of property and persecution.” Ongwen was also convicted for a number of sexual and gender-based crimes he committed against seven women who were abducted and placed into his household, including forced marriage, torture, rape, sexual slavery, enslavement, forced pregnancy and outrages upon personal dignity. The former LRA commander was also found guilty for a number of further sexual and gender-based crimes he committed against girls and women within the Sinia brigade, namely forced marriage, torture, rape, sexual slavery and enslavement. He was also condemned for the crime of conscripting children under the age of 15 into the Sinia brigade and using them to participate actively in hostilities. The Chamber found that these crimes were committed in the context of the armed rebellion of the Lord's Resistance Army (LRA) against the government of Uganda. The LRA, including Dominic Ongwen, perceived the civilians living in Northern Uganda as associated with the government of Uganda, and thus as the enemy. This concerned in particular those who lived in government-established IDP camps. The Chamber found that Dominic Ongwen is fully responsible for all these crimes. The Chamber did not find evidence that supported the claim that he suffered from any mental disease or disorder during the period relevant to the charges or that he committed these crimes under duress or under any threats. Following this verdict, the Chamber will impose a sentence for Dominic Ongwen, after it receives submissions on the appropriate sentence by the Prosecutor, his defence team, and the legal representatives of the participating victims. The ICC's founding treaty, the Rome Statute, does not provide for a death penalty; the sentence may be up to 30 years of imprisonment, and under exceptional circumstances a life imprisonment. Furthermore, a phase dedicated to the reparations to victims will be opened. The verdict may be appealed by either party to the proceedings within 30 days after the notification of the Judgment. Dominic Ongwen was a brigade commander of the Sinia brigade of the Lord’s Resistance Army. He was accused of 70 counts of crimes against humanity and war crimes.

• published: 04 Feb 2021
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