Nearly two decades after the International Criminal Court (ICC) first sought his arrest, Joseph Kony, the notorious leader of Uganda’s Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA), has had war crimes and crimes against humanity charges formally confirmed against him.
Kony, who remains on the run, is accused of 39 offenses including murder, rape, and sexual enslavement, making him the ICC’s longest-standing fugitive.
The charges relate to atrocities committed in northern Uganda between 2002 and 2005 under Kony’s command of the LRA. His initial arrest warrant was issued under seal on July 8, 2005, revised on September 27, 2005, and publicly unsealed on October 13, 2005.
Despite the passage of almost 20 years, Kony has never been apprehended.
The ICC Pre-Trial Chamber III set a hearing to confirm the charges on December 12, 2024, scheduling it for September 9, 2025. The Appeals Chamber later upheld the procedure for conducting confirmation hearings in absentia on June 3, 2025, laying out clear rules for cases where the defendant is not present.
The proceedings were held on September 9 and 10, 2025, in The Hague, Netherlands, with Kony represented by his defence lawyer, Peter Haynes. ICC rules prevent a full trial without the defendant in court, but the confirmation of charges allows the legal process to continue until Kony is caught.
ICC Prosecutors confirmed that tracking and arrest efforts are ongoing.
They highlighted that conducting the hearing in absentia ensures that justice can progress despite Kony’s continued evasion of authorities. At 64, Kony remains a high-profile fugitive, and the court stressed that the charges are a critical step toward holding him accountable.
The court’s decision marks a significant development in a case that has spanned decades, demonstrating the ICC’s commitment to pursuing justice even when defendants remain beyond reach.
Analysts say this confirms that the legal system can advance in absentia, keeping the path open for eventual prosecution and accountability for crimes committed against civilians.
