Kony founded and led the LRA, a rebel group that waged a brutal campaign against civilians and government forces in northern Uganda for nearly two decades. (New Vision/Files)

The International Criminal Court (ICC) has confirmed all 39 charges against fugitive founder and leader of the Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA) Joseph Kony, committing him to stand trial before a Trial Chamber once he is apprehended.

In its decision issued Thursday, November 6, 2025, Pre-Trial Chamber III of the ICC, composed of Judge Althea Violet Alexis-Windsor (Presiding), Judge Iulia Antoanella Motoc, and Judge Haykel Ben Mahfoudh, found there were substantial grounds to believe that Kony is responsible for war crimes and crimes against humanity committed in Northern Uganda between July 2002 and December 2005.

The Court emphasised that under the Rome Statute, trials cannot proceed in the absence of the accused, meaning that the proceedings against Kony will only move forward once he is present in The Hague.

Kony founded and led the LRA, a rebel group that waged a brutal campaign against civilians and government forces in northern Uganda for nearly two decades.

The Chamber concluded that the LRA conducted a widespread and systematic attack against civilian populations in the Acholi, Lango, and Teso regions, targeting communities perceived to support the Ugandan government.

According to the ICC, Kony faces 29 charges as an indirect co-perpetrator or for ordering and inducing atrocities committed by his fighters, including attacks on schools and camps for internally displaced persons.

The charges include crimes against humanity, such as murder, torture, enslavement, forced marriage, forced pregnancy, rape and persecution, as well as war crimes such as intentionally attacking civilians, using child soldiers, sexual slavery, pillaging, and destruction of property.

In addition, Kony faces 10 more charges as a direct perpetrator in crimes committed against two victims, including enslavement, rape, torture, and forced pregnancy.

The Chamber also rejected the Defence’s request for a conditional stay of the proceedings.

Both the Defence and the Office of the Prosecutor are barred from appealing the confirmation decision until Kony is surrendered and notified of the ruling.

Kony’s arrest warrant

An ICC warrant for Kony’s arrest was first issued under seal in July 2005, later amended and unsealed in October that year.

Despite numerous international efforts, Kony remains at large.

The confirmation of charges hearing took place on 9 and 10 September 2025 at the ICC’s headquarters in The Hague, in Kony’s absence but with his Defence represented by Peter Haynes.

Earlier, in June 2025, the Appeals Chamber upheld the Court’s authority to conduct confirmation proceedings in absentia, paving the way for this week’s decision.