The International Criminal Court (ICC) has ordered a former Ugandan warlord to pay $30 million in reparations to the victims of his atrocities. Dominic Ongwen, who was a commander of the notorious Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA), was convicted of 61 crimes against humanity and war crimes in February, and sentenced to 25 years in prison in May.
The ICC said that Ongwen was responsible for the suffering of thousands of people in northern Uganda, where the LRA waged a brutal insurgency for more than two decades. He was found guilty of murder, rape, torture, enslavement, forced marriage, and conscripting child soldiers, among other crimes.
The court said that Ongwen’s victims were entitled to individual and collective reparations, which could include monetary compensation, psychological and physical rehabilitation, education, and symbolic measures, such as memorials and apologies. It said that the reparations should reflect the harm caused by Ongwen, and the needs and preferences of the victims.
The court also said that Ongwen was liable for $30 million, which is the highest amount ever ordered by the ICC. However, it acknowledged that Ongwen was indigent, and that he was himself a victim of the LRA, as he was abducted and forced to join the rebel group when he was a child. Therefore, it said that it would seek the assistance of a trust fund, which is supported by voluntary contributions from states and individuals, to implement the reparations.
The court said that the reparations order was a landmark decision, as it was the first time that the ICC had awarded both individual and collective reparations to the victims of a single perpetrator. It also said that the reparations order was a recognition of the dignity and rights of the victims, and a contribution to their healing and reconciliation.
The victims and their representatives welcomed the reparations order, and said that it was a sign of justice and hope. They said that the reparations would help them rebuild their lives and communities, and overcome the trauma and stigma caused by Ongwen’s crimes. They also said that they hoped that the reparations would deter future crimes, and promote peace and security in the region.
Ongwen’s lawyers said that they respected the court’s decision, but they maintained that Ongwen was not guilty, and that he was a victim of the LRA’s indoctrination and coercion. They said that they would appeal his conviction and sentence, and that they hoped that the court would consider his personal circumstances and the context of the conflict.
The LRA, whichh was led by the elusive Joseph Kony, who is still at large, was one of the most feared rebel groups in Africa. It claimed to be fighting for a theocratic state based on the Ten Commandments, but it was known for its horrific violence and abductions. It killed tens of thousands of people, and displaced millions more, in Uganda, South Sudan, the Democratic Republic of Congo, and the Central African Republic.
The ICC, which is based in The Hague, Netherlands, is the world’s first permanent court for prosecuting the most serious crimes of international concern. It has been operating since 2002, and has issued 31 arrest warrants, and convicted six people, including Ongwen.
Source: AP News
