ICC Confirms All 39 Charges Against LRA Chief Kony
By Our Reporter
The Office of the Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court (ICC) welcomes the decision of Pre-Trial Chamber (PTC) II confirming all 39 counts of war crimes and crimes against humanity against Joseph Kony, leader of the Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA).
The charges comprise seven attacks on former Internally Displaced Persons camps, the attack on the Lwala Girls Secondary School, and the systemic abductions and severe mistreatment of thousands of children, women and girls.The camps were Abia, Abok, Lukodi, Pagak, Pajule/Lapul, Odek, and Barlonyo.
Maria Mabinty Kamara, the ICC Outreach Officer for Uganda said this is the first time that an ICC Pre-Trial Chamber has confirmed charges against a suspect in absentia.
The decision follows the confirmation of charges hearing held in Kony’s absence on 9 and 10 September 2025.
The confirmation of these charges is a crucial step in holding Kony accountable for the grave crimes attributed to him.
“After completion of this stage of the proceedings, the case will now be remanded to a trial chamber. This ensures that Kony – once arrested – can immediately face trial on these charges,” Kamara said on Thursday 6th November.
She added that the Office of the Prosecutor reiterates its unwavering commitment to pursuing justice for the victims of the crimes of the LRA and affected communities in northern Uganda. “We will continue to work with partners and States to ensure that Kony is arrested and brought before the Court to face trial.”
She added that in its decision, the PTC found that there are substantial grounds to believe that Kony is responsible for the charged crimes, and that the case should therefore be transferred to trial. The decision is based on the evidence collected as part of a thorough investigation and the presentation of the Prosecution’s case in both written and oral submissions.
She said the Office of the Prosecutor especially welcomes that the PTC held that there are substantial grounds to believe that Joseph Kony is individually responsible for the enslavement and torture of thousands of women and children. It further confirmed that there are substantial grounds to believe that hundreds of women and girls were raped while in LRA captivity. Further, the PTC accepted the charge of persecution on the ground of age of hundreds of children targeted by the LRA. In line with its Policies on Gender-based crimes and on Children, the effective investigation and prosecution of gender-based crimes and crimes against children is a strategic priority of the Office.
“Efforts to track and secure Kony’s arrest remain ongoing. The Office once again calls on all States and relevant partners to intensify their cooperation in executing the outstanding arrest warrant issued in 2005,” she concluded.
