The International Criminal Court (ICC) has confirmed all 39 counts of war crimes and crimes against humanity against Joseph Kony, leader of the Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA), marking a historic ruling from Pre-Trial Chamber II.
The charges stem from the group’s brutal insurgency in northern Uganda and neighbouring regions between 2002 and 2005.
According to the court, substantial grounds exist to believe Kony is individually responsible for atrocities that include murder, enslavement, torture, rape, sexual slavery and persecution of children.
The confirmed charges relate to multiple attacks on internally displaced persons (IDP) camps, the raid on Lwala Girls Secondary School and the systematic abduction and abuse of thousands of children, women and girls.
Kony has remained at large since the arrest warrant issued in July 2005 – the first in the Court’s history for this situation. This landmark ruling is the first time the ICC has confirmed charges in absentia. The confirmation hearing was held on 9–10 September 2025 in his absence.
The ruling now clears the path for referral to the Trial Chamber once Kony is apprehended. The Office of the Prosecutor said: “We will continue to work with partners and States to ensure that Mr Kony is arrested and brought before the Court to face trial. This development marks a significant step toward justice for the countless victims and survivors of the LRA’s crimes.”
This confirmation of charges signals a major advance in international justice, especially for the many victims of the LRA’s decades-long campaign.
It underscores the ICC’s commitment to holding perpetrators of crimes against children and gender-based crimes accountable. While the ruling cannot immediately lead to trial in Kony’s absence (because under the Rome Statute trials cannot proceed without the suspect present), it removes any procedural barrier to doing so once he is arrested.
It also sends a message to other fugitive perpetrators of mass atrocities that the international community and courts remain engaged and vigilant.
The ICC will now await the arrest and surrender of Kony for the case to move to the Trial Chamber. States and partners have been urged to intensify cooperation in locating and apprehending him.
Meanwhile, efforts to gather evidence, protect witnesses and engage with affected communities will continue in parallel.
Having been defeated in Uganda, Joseph Kony and remnants of his lord’s Resistance Army rebels fled to Central African Republic .
Kony’s group has remained in this region and has survived by growing crops, hunting bushmeat, and collecting honey while periodically bartering with local traders
Having been weakened, Kony went into almost a lull with limited activity.
In 2021, the U.S. government announced a $5 million reward for information leading to the arrest of Joseph Kony.
A warrant of arrest was issued against Joseph Kony in 2005 and it referred to 33 charges that he committed in Northern Uganda.
The ICC in 2022 sentenced former LRA commander, Dominic Ongwen to 25 years imprisonment over crimes committed during the war in Northern Uganda.
He became the first LRA commander to be arraigned before ICC .
Kony has been elusive since an arrest warrant was issued against him.
