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Amnesty praises capture of senior LRA commander

A handout picture taken and released on January 17, 2015 at an undisclosed location in the Central African Republic by the Uganda People’s Defence Force (UPDF) shows captured Lord’s Resistance Army rebel chief Dominic Ongwen  (centre) standing next to Uganda’s Colonel Michael Kabango (right) and Lieutenant Colonel Rugumayo, before boarding a plane to Bangui.   PHOTO | AFP

What you need to know:

  • According to a press release circulated to the media, the move is a step towards justice for the victims who have suffered brutality in the hands of LRA for more than two decades

Dar es Salaam. Amnesty International yesterday applauded the impending transfer of former commander of the Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA) Dominic Ongwen to the International Criminal Court (ICC).

According to a press release circulated to the media, the move is a step towards justice for the victims who have suffered brutality in the hands of LRA for more than two decades. “This is a significant development in the pursuit for justice. The LRA abducted, killed and mutilated thousands in Uganda and committed atrocities, including the use of child soldiers and sexual slavery,” said Ms Sarah Jackson, Amnesty International’s Deputy Regional Director for East Africa.

She said it’s been almost a decade since arrest warrants were issued against LRA leaders hence the impending transfer of Ongwen to The Hague to face charges of crimes against humanity and war crimes finally paves the way for survivors of LRA atrocities in northern Uganda to see justice done. The Ugandan government referred the situation concerning the conflict with the LRA to the ICC over 11 years ago. The prosecutor subsequently opened an investigation in northern Uganda and the ICC issued arrest warrants for five alleged LRA leaders in 2005. On January 5, 2015, the US, working with the African Union (AU) Regional Taskforce in the Central African Republic (CAR), took custody of Dominic Ongwen. On January 14 he was handed over to the Ugandan army contingent of the AU Regional Taskforce.

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And on Tuesday the ICC took legal custody of the rebel leader in CAR’s capital, Bangui, and he is expected to be transferred to The Hague in the coming days.

Mr Ongwen was himself abducted by the LRA, reportedly at the age of 10 years old. Abducting, brainwashing and brutally initiating children into killing is central to the LRA’s modus operandi.

“As a victim, as well as a suspected perpetrator, the circumstances of Dominic Ongwen’s participation in crimes committed by the LRA could form part of his defence. In the event of his conviction, his abduction and conscription into the LRA could also be taken into account in sentencing,” said Ms Jackson.

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