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The warrants of arrest in this case were issued under seal on 8 July 2005 and unsealed on 13 October 2005. The suspect Joseph Kony is still at large. While the case originally involved Raska Lukwiya, Okot Odhiambo and Vincent Otti, proceedings against them were terminated due to their passing.
On 23 November 2023, Pre-Trial Chamber II issued a preliminary decision on the Prosecutor’s Request to hold a confirmation of charges hearing in Mr Kony’s absence. The Prosecutor filed the Document Containing the Charges on 19 January 2024. On 4 March 2024, Pre-Trial Chamber II issued a decision on the Prosecutor’s request to hold a confirmation of charges hearing in the case against Joseph Kony in the suspect’s absence, should he not appear, and set the date for this hearing, to commence on 15 October 2024.
On 12 September 2024, Pre-Trial Chamber postponed the commencement of the confirmation hearing scheduled for 15 October 2024, following the Defence, Prosecution, and Office of the Public Counsel for Victims observations. On 29 October 2024, Pre-Trial Chamber III issued a decision concluding that all the requirements to hold a confirmation of charges hearing in the absence of the suspect Joseph Kony are now met.
On 17 April 2025, the Office of the Prosecutor submitted an Amended Document Containing the Charges. According to it, Joseph Kony is suspected of 39 counts of war crimes and crimes against humanity, allegedly committed between at least 1 July 2002 until 31 December 2005 in northern Uganda.
The confirmation of charges hearing in the Kony case took place on 9 and 10 September 2025 at the seat of the Court in The Hague. The hearing was held in the absence of the suspect, who was represented by Defence Counsel Peter Haynes, KC. On 6 November 2025, Pre-Trial Chamber III confirmed all the 39 charges brought by the Prosecutor in the Kony case and committed Mr Kony to trial before a Trial Chamber.
Next steps: Although the charges are confirmed, this trial would require Mr Kony to be present before the ICC as trials cannot be held in the suspect’s absence, according to the ICC Rome Statute, the Court’s founding treaty.
Document containing the charges – Office of the Prosecutor, 19 January 2024
Amended Document Containing the Charges – Office of the Prosecutor, 17 April 2025
Decision on the Prosecution’s request to hold a confirmation of charges hearing in the Kony case in the suspect’s absence’ – Pre-Trial Chamber II, 23 November 2023
Second decision on the Prosecution’s request to hold a confirmation of charges hearing in the Kony case in the suspect’s absence – Pre-Trial Chamber II, 4 March 2024
Decision on the criteria for holding confirmation of charges proceedings in absentia – Pre-Trial Chamber III, 29 October 2024
Judgment on the appeal of Mr Joseph Kony against the decision of Pre-Trial Chamber III of 29 October 2024 entitled “Decision on the criteria for holding confirmation of charges proceedings in absentia” – Appeals Chamber, 3 June 2025
Charges not confirmed
Pre-Trial Chamber I declined to confirm the charges against Callixte Mbarushimana and did not commit the case to trial. The Prosecution's appeal was dismissed. On 23 December 2011, Mr Mbarushimana was released from the ICC custody.
Next steps: The case is considered closed unless and until the Prosecutor submits new evidence.
Charges withdrawn
The warrant of arrest against Maxime Jeoffroy Eli Mokom Gawaka was issued under seal on 10 December 2018 for war crimes and crimes against humanity allegedly committed in the Central African Republic. Mr Mokom was surrendered to the ICC on 14 March 2022.
On 22 March 2022, Maxime Jeoffroy Eli Mokom Gawaka made his first appearance before Pre-Trial Chamber II.
The confirmation of charges hearing commenced on 22 August 2023, but had not yet been concluded as the parties still had to submit written submissions on the merits of the case.
On 17 October 2023, Pre-Trial Chamber II terminated the proceedings in the Mokom case and ordered Mr Mokom’s immediate release. Mr. Mokom was released from the ICC detention on the same day. The Chamber acted on the basis of the Prosecution’s notice of withdrawal of the charges against Mr Mokom, dated 16 October 2023. This notice asserts that there are relevant changes regarding the evidence in the case. Therefore, the Prosecution considers that, even if the charges would be confirmed by Pre-Trial Chamber II, there is no reasonable prospect for a conviction at trial.
Acquitted
On 18 December 2012, Trial Chamber II acquitted Mathieu Ngudjolo Chui of the charges of war crimes and crimes against humanity and ordered his immediate release. The Prosecution appealed the verdict on 20 December 2012. On 27 February 2015, the verdict was upheld by the Appeals Chamber.
On 8 July 2019, ICC Trial Chamber VI found Bosco Ntaganda guilty, beyond reasonable doubt, of 18 counts of war crimes and crimes against humanity, committed in Ituri, DRC, in 2002-2003. On 7 November 2019, Bosco Ntaganda was sentenced to a total of 30 years of imprisonment. The time he spent in ICC detention - from 22 March 2013 to 7 November 2019 - will be deducted from this sentence.
On 30 March 2021, the ICC Appeals Chamber confirmed the conviction and the sentence in this case. These two decisions are now final.
Next steps: On 8 March 2021, Trial Chamber VI delivered its Order on Reparations to victims against Mr Ntaganda.The Defence of Mr Ntaganda and the Legal Representative of one of the two groups of victims appealed the order. On 12 September 2022, the Appeals Chamber issued its judgment in the appeals and remanded several issues for the Trial Chamber to issue a new reparations order. On 14 July 2023, Trial Chamber II delivered an Addendum to the Reparations Order of 8 March 2021. Following this Addendum, the Chamber will rule on all aspects of the Draft Implementation Plan that do not require further submissions from the ICC Trust Fund for Victims or the parties.
On 14 December 2022, Mr Ntaganda was transferred to the Kingdom of Belgium to serve his sentence of imprisonment at the Leuze-en-Hainaut prison.
The trial began on 6 December 2016. The Prosecution and the Defence have completed the presentation of their evidence. The Legal Representatives of Victims also called witnesses to appear before the Chamber. On 12 December 2019, the presiding judge declared the closure of the submission of evidence in the case. The closing briefs were filed on 24 February 2020. The closing statements took place from 10 to 12 March 2020. On 4 February 2021, Trial Chamber IX, composed of Judge Bertram Schmitt (Presiding), Judge Peter Kovacs and Judge Raul C. Pangalangan, found Dominic Ongwen guilty for a total of 61 crimes comprising crimes against humanity and war crimes, committed in Northern Uganda between 1 July 2002 and 31 December 2005. On 6 May 2021, Trial Chamber IX sentenced Dominic Ongwen to 25 years of imprisonment.
On 15 December 2022, the Appeals Chamber confirmed the decisions of Trial Chamber IX on Dominic Ongwen’s guilt and sentence. On 18 December 2023, Mr Ongwen was transferred to Norway to serve his sentence of imprisonment.
On 28 February 2024, Trial Chamber IX delivered its Order on Reparations to victims. On 7 April 2025, the Appeals Chamber rejected Mr Dominic Ongwen’s appeal against the Order on Reparations and confirmed the Trial Chamber’s decision.
The warrant of arrest against Mr Mahamat Said Abdel Kani also known as "Mahamat Said Abdel Kain" and "Mahamat Saïd Abdelkani" ("Mr Said") was issued under seal on 7 January 2019 for war crimes and crimes against humanity allegedly committed in Bangui (CAR) in 2013. Mr Said was surrendered to the ICC on 24 January 2021. The initial appearance of Mr Said before the Single Judge of Pre-Trial Chamber II, Judge Rosario Salvatore Aitala, took place on 28 and 29 January 2021. The confirmation of charges hearing took place from 12 to 14 October 2021.
On 9 December 2021, Pre-Trial Chamber II partially confirmed the charges of crimes against humanity and war crimes brought by the Prosecutor against Mr Said and committed him to trial. The trial opened on 26 September 2022. The Prosecution concluded its presentation of evidence on 15 November 2024, the Chamber having heard the testimony of 58 prosecution witnesses. On 17 March 2025, the Defence started to present its witnesses. The Defence concluded its presentation of evidence on 2 September 2025.
The closing statements took place from 25 to 26 November 2025. Statements were made by the Office of the Prosecutor, the Legal Representative of Victims, and the Defence.
Next steps: The Judges have started their deliberations and the Judgement will be pronounced in due course.
Warrant of Arrest for Mahamat Said Abdel
Decision on the confirmation of charges against Mahamat Said Abdel Kani
The arrest warrant for Alfred Yekatom was issued on 11 November 2018 and unsealed on 17 November 2018. He was surrendered to the ICC on 17 November 2018 and appeared for the first time before Pre-Trial Chamber II on 23 November 2018. The arrest warrant for Patrice-Edouard Ngaïssona was issued on 7 December 2018. He was arrested by the authorities of the French Republic on 12 December 2018 and transferred to the ICC detention centre on 23 January 2019, upon completion of necessary national proceedings. His initial appearance before Pre-Trial Chamber II took place on 25 January 2019. On 20 February 2019, Pre-Trial Chamber II joined the Yekatom and Ngaïssona cases.
The confirmation of charges hearing was held on 19-25 September and 11 October 2019. On 11 December 2019, Pre-Trial Chamber II partially confirmed the charges of war crimes and crimes against humanity brought by the Prosecutor against Mr Yekatom and Mr Ngaïssona and committed them to trial.
On 11 March 2020, Pre-Trial Chamber II rejected the Prosecution's Request for Reconsideration of, or alternatively Leave to Appeal, the "Decision on the confirmation of charges against Alfred Yekatom and Patrice-Edouard Ngaissona", thereby concluding the proceedings in the case before that Chamber, and ordering the Registrar to transmit the Decision Confirming the Charges and the record of the proceedings to the ICC Presidency. This was done on 13 March 2020. On 16 March 2020, the Presidency constituted Trial Chamber V to be in charge of this case and is composed of Judge Bertram Schmitt, Judge Péter Kovács and Judge Chang-ho Chung.
The trial opened on 16 February 2021 before Trial Chamber V. The prosecution called 114 witnesses to testify. The Legal Representatives of Victims also called three witnesses to testify.
On 28 November 2023, the Defence for Mr Yekatom made its opening statement. The Defence for Mr Ngaïssona had already presented its opening statement at the beginning of trial.
On 11 December 2023, the Defence started to present its witnesses. On 27 and 28 August 2024, the presentation of evidence of the Defence ended with an unsworn statement Mr. Ngaïssona.
The closing statements took place from 9 to 12 December 2024. Statements were made by the Office of the Prosecutor, the Legal Representatives of Victims, and the Defence, followed by questions from the Chamber.
On 13 and 16 December 2024, the parties and participants filed their submissions on potential sentencing. A hearing on potential sentencing was held on 8 and 9 January 2025.
On 24 July 2025, Trial Chamber V found Mr Ngaïssona and Mr Yekatom guilty of a number of war crimes and crimes against humanity committed in Bangui and the west of the Central African Republic between September 2013 and at least February 2014. On the same date, Trial Chamber V sentenced Mr Yekatom to 15 years of imprisonment and Mr Ngaïssona to 12 years of imprisonment. The time spent in detention will be deducted from their sentences.
Next steps: On 26 September 2025, the Defense of Mr Ngaïssona and of Mr Yekatom, as well as the Office of the Prosecutor, filed their notices of appeals against the judgment in the case. The Appeals Chamber will rule on these appeals in due course. The suspects remain in custody at the ICC detention centre.