Statement of the Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court, Fatou Bensouda, following the surrender and transfer of top LRA Commander Dominic Ongwen. I welcome the news that Dominic Ongwen, a high ranking commander of the Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA), has surrendered and been transferred to the custody of the International Criminal Court (ICC). I am grateful for the persistent efforts of the Government of Uganda, the Government of the Central African Republic, the Uganda People’s Defence Force, the African Union Regional Task Force, and generally, all who have helped realise this significant development. Dominic Ongwen’s transfer brings us one step closer to ending the LRA’s reign of terror in the African Great Lakes region.  For more than a quarter of a century, the LRA under Joseph Kony and his high command, that includes Ongwen, have terrorised the people of Northern Uganda and neighbouring countries. The LRA has reportedly killed tens of thousands and displaced millions of people; terrorised civilians, abducted children and forced them to kill and serve as sex slaves. They have hacked off limbs and horribly disfigured men, women and children. In so doing, the LRA has committed unimaginable crimes against humanity and war crimes. My investigation demonstrates that Dominic Ongwen served as a high ranking commander within the LRA and that he is amongst those who bear the greatest responsibility for crimes within the jurisdiction of the ICC.  His transfer to the Court’s custody sends a firm and unequivocal message that no matter how long it will take, the Office of the Prosecutor will not stop until the perpetrators of the most serious crimes of concern to the international community are prosecuted and face justice for their heinous crimes. I urge all others that still remain within LRA ranks to abandon violence; stop committing crimes, and follow the bold steps of others before you. I also encourage all States to renew and refocus efforts to secure the arrest of Joseph Kony as well as all other ICC fugitives. The victims of their crimes have waited far too long and deserve to see justice done.

Dominic Ongwen, against whom the International Criminal Court (ICC) has issued an arrest warrant for crimes against humanity and war crimes, is currently escorted by an ICC delegation that has left Central African Republic heading to the ICC detention centre in The Hague (Netherlands). On 17 January 2015, Dominic Ongwen was transferred to the ICC’s custody. On behalf of the Court, the Registrar of the ICC Herman von Hebel thanked the United Nations and in particular the MINUSCA (the UN Mission for the Stabilization of the Central African Republic) for their support and cooperation in enabling Mr Dominic Ongwen’s transfer to the ICC. He also extended his appreciation to the authorities of the Central African Republic, Uganda, the United States of America, Belgium and the Netherlands (the ICC host State), as well as to the African Union, for their instrumental roles during this operation. The Court welcomed these joint efforts as a concrete expression of the international community’s commitment to the pursuit of justice. “I strongly welcome the transfer of Dominic Ongwen to the custody of the Court, which constitutes an important success for the Rome Statute system nearly ten years after the issuance of the warrant of arrest against him,” said the President of the Assembly of States Parties (ASP) to the Rome Statute Minister Sidiki Kaba. “The affected communities will have the opportunity to see international justice address the horrific violence that took place in Uganda. I join the Court in its appreciation to all those States and organizations whose cooperation made possible the successful implementation of the Court’s decisions,” he added. Upon arrival, Mr Ongwen will receive a medical visit and will appear, as soon as possible, before the Judges in the presence of a Defence Lawyer. The date of the initial appearance hearing will be announced soon. During the initial appearance hearing, the Judges of Pre-Trial Chamber II will verify the identity of the suspect and the language in which he is able to follow the proceedings. Mr Ongwen will be informed of the charges against him. The Judges will also schedule a date for the opening of the confirmation of charges hearing, a preliminary step to decide whether the case will be referred to a trial or not. Background: Dominic Ongwen was the alleged Brigade Commander of the Sinia Brigade of the Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA). On 8 July 2005, ICC Judges issued an arrest warrant against Mr. Ongwen for three counts of crimes against humanity (murder; enslavement; inhumane acts of inflicting serious bodily injury and suffering) and four counts of war crimes (murder; cruel treatment of civilians; intentionally directing an attack against a civilian population; pillaging) allegedly committed in 2004 within the context of the situation in Uganda.

Statement of the Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court, Fatou Bensouda, following reports of escalating violence in Nigeria I am deeply concerned by reports of ongoing large-scale abuses in north-eastern Nigeria. My Office continues to gather information alleging killings of large numbers of civilians, the use of girls and boys to participate in hostilities, and the massive displacement of communities by the armed group commonly referred to as Boko Haram. The most recent attack on the city of Baga and adjacent villages in early January, as well as the reported use of women and children as suicide bombers in attacks on markets in Maiduguri and Potiskum, on 11 and 12 January, mark a further disturbing escalation in the appalling levels of violence. The intentional targeting of civilians, affecting thousands of women, children and men, cannot be tolerated. Crimes committed by members of any of the parties to the armed conflict in Nigeria must be thoroughly and impartially investigated and prosecuted. As a State Party to the Rome Statute, Nigeria has committed to ensuring that crimes that deeply shock the conscience of humanity do not go unpunished, and I remind Nigeria of its obligation in this regard. In this context, I recall that the ICC has jurisdiction over Rome Statute crimes committed on the territory of Nigeria or by Nigerian nationals from 1 July 2002 onwards and continues to conduct a preliminary examination of the situation there. No one should doubt my resolve, if need be, to prosecute those individuals most responsible for war crimes or crimes against humanity.

Photographie par Axel Delepinne. Paul Magnette aux Pays-Bas pour sa première mission à l’étranger en tant que Ministre-président wallon. Le Ministre-président de la Wallonie, Paul Magnette, a effectué une visite aux Pays-Bas les 13 et 14 janvier. Il s’agissait de sa première visite à l’étranger, ce qui montre l’importance accordée aux Pays-Bas par le gouvernement wallon. Lors de sa mission, il a rencontré le Premier ministre néerlandais Mark Rutte et le Bourgmestre Ahmed Aboutaleb de Rotterdam. Dans la cité portuaire, il a visité le RDM Campus, lieu de formation rassemblant les secteurs de l’enseignement technique secondaire et supérieur, des instituts de recherche et des entreprises. Le chef du gouvernement wallon a également visité la société Pluriomics à Leiden, qui a récemment annoncé un investissement de 4 millions d’euros dans le Biopark à Charleroi. Cette société est active dans la production des cellules souches utilisées pour le développement des médicaments. Ces visites et rencontres permettront de renforcer les liens tissés entre les Pays-Bas et la Wallonie.