Inhabitants of Mahagi, Aru and Mongbwalu in Ituri receive information on the development of the various cases before the ICC

From 13 to 26 August, the ICC’s outreach team based in Bunia, Democratic Republic of the Congo conducted an outreach mission in Ituri, visiting Mahagi and Aru Territories, which are 180 and 340 km respectively from Bunia, the district’s capital, and the city of Mongbwalu, 80 km from Bunia.

The mission is part of the mechanisms set up by the Public Information and Documentation Section of the International Criminal Court to provide the public in Ituri District with regular information about the latest developments at the Court.

In addition to its partnership with local radio stations, the Outreach Unit regularly tours the various territories in Ituri to provide people affected by the atrocities with information about how the Court works and how the various cases before it are progressing.

During this mission, the team held public meetings with various audiences: local NGOs and women’s groups, members of radio listeners’ clubs, students, police officers and the general public.

The participants at the meetings (estimated at around 750 people) received information about the development of the cases related to the situations in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and the Central African Republic before the ICC. A particular focus was placed on the cases which directly concern the people of Ituri, namely The Prosecutor v. Thomas Lubanga and The Prosecutor v. Germain Katanga & Mathieu Ngudjolo Chui.

The ICC delegation responded to the villagers’ questions and explained certain key developments.

Many questions concerned the end of the first part of Thomas Lubanga’s trial – which was devoted to the presentation of the Office of the Prosecutor’s evidence and lasted around six months (from 26 January to 14 July 2009) – and the presentation of the Defence’s case, which is due to commence in October.

Another forthcoming event to catch the attention of the locals was the commencement of the trial of Germain Katanga & Mathieu Ngudjolo Chui, scheduled for 24 November. In addition, the representatives of the ICC were able in these meetings to explain to participants the significance of the challenge to admissibility submitted by Germain Katanga’s defence.

Lastly, the decision granting interim release to Jean-Pierre Bemba was also on the agenda. Although it concerns the situation in the Central African Republic, the case of The Prosecutor v. Jean-Pierre Bemba also interests many Iturians – not only because Jean-Pierre Bemba is Congolese, but also because the decision was the first of its kind from the ICC, and raised many questions.

In fact, all of the participants were keen to find out the outcome of the ongoing Lubanga trial and said that they would like the Outreach Unit to come to them as often as possible.

For further information, please contact the ICC’s Field Outreach Unit, Bunia Office, at
+243 998 011 418 or [email protected].