7, November 2025 - International Criminal Court (ICC) has confirmed 39 charges of war crimes and crimes against humanity against Ugandan rebel leader Joseph Kony, nearly 20 years after an arrest warrant was first issued for him.
In a ruling delivered on Thursday, judges from the ICC’s Pre-Trial Chamber III said there were “substantial grounds to believe” that Kony is responsible for atrocities committed in northern Uganda between 2002 and 2005. The court said these crimes include murder, rape, enslavement, forced marriage, and the use of child soldiers.
Joseph Kony, the elusive founder of the Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA), led a brutal rebellion that terrorized communities across northern Uganda and neighbouring countries, including South Sudan, the Democratic Republic of Congo, and the Central African Republic. The group became infamous for kidnapping thousands of children, forcing boys to fight and girls to become “wives” of fighters.
Although the ICC issued an arrest warrant for Kony in 2005, he has never been captured. Now in his early 60s, Kony remains one of the world’s most wanted fugitives. Reports suggest he may still be hiding somewhere in the vast jungles between South Sudan and the Central African Republic.
The ICC said confirming the charges is an important step toward justice for victims of the LRA’s crimes, even if Kony remains at large. “This decision ensures that the case remains ready for trial if and when Kony is arrested or surrenders,” the judges stated.
The court has tried other LRA commanders in Kony’s absence. In 2021, his top aide Dominic Ongwen was sentenced to 25 years in prison for war crimes and crimes against humanity.
The ICC emphasized that the confirmation of charges against Kony demonstrates its ongoing commitment to accountability and justice, even after years of delay. It said the decision preserves evidence and keeps the case active until Kony is brought before the court.
