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Ongwen to know charges he faces, confirm identity at ICC
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 shows captured Lord's Resistance Army rebel chief Dominic Ongwen (second right), flanked by a representative of the Central African Republic Glaisian Kalengo (third right). Ongwen faced judges at the International Criminal Court in The Hague on Monday. PHOTO | AFP.
What you need to know:
- Ongwen, a child soldier-turned-warlord, is the first leader of the brutal Ugandan rebel army led by the fugitive Joseph Kony to appear before the court in The Hague.
- He was transferred to the ICC last week following his surrender to US special forces in the Central African Republic.
- Known as the "White Ant", Ongwen was one of the main leaders of the LRA, which is accused of killing more than 100,000 people and abducting some 60,000 children in a bloody rebellion that started in 1987.
- He has been wanted for war crimes for almost a decade by the ICC, and the United States had offered a $5 million (4.3 million euros) reward for his capture.
- During the initial hearing at 1300 GMT, presiding judge Ekaterina Trendafilova will ask Ongwen to confirm his identity and decide which language will be used in the proceedings.
- He will also be informed of the charges against him, ahead of a confirmation of charges hearing.
THE HAGUE
Notorious former Lord's Resistance Army commander Dominic Ongwen faces International Criminal Court judges for the first time on Monday, accused of war crimes and crimes against humanity.
