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Africa Live: Joseph Kony case to continue despite his absence - ICC - BBC News Africa Live: Joseph Kony case to continue despite his absence - ICC - BBC News
(about 1 hour later)
Judges at the International Crime Court (ICC) have ruled that prosecutors can bring a hearing on charges against a fugitive Ugandan warlord despite his absence. The United States government has imposed sanctions on Zimbabwe's President Emmerson Mnangagwa, along with other senior officials, for corruption and human rights abuses.
Joseph Kony was the leader of the notorious Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA), which abducted thousands of children to use as soldiers or sex slaves. On Monday the US government said leaders in Zimbabwe were siphoning off public resources for personal gain.
The hearing has been scheduled for 15 October. This move scraps the old executive sanction order introduced in 2003 and moves 11 individuals and three entities onto the global list - the Global Magnitsky sanctions program.
He is accused of 33 counts of war crimes and crimes against humanity. "These illicit activities support and contribute to a global criminal network of bribery, smuggling, and money laundering that impoverish communities in Zimbabwe, southern Africa, and other parts of the world," a statement said.
Joseph Kony formed the LRA in Uganda over two decades ago and claimed to be fighting to install a government based on the Bible's Ten Commandments. The US also criticised the targeting of civil society and severe restrictions on political activity.
The arrest warrant for Mr Kony was issued in 2005, but he has evaded capture. As well as President Mnangagwa, Vice-President Constantino Chiwenga and businessman Kudakwashe Tagwirei have also been sanctioned.
At one time he was pursued by Ugandan and US troops but they gave up the chase in 2017, arguing that with his dwindling band of followers he had become a spent force. Mr Mnangaga's wife, Auxillia Mnangagwa, was also hit with sanctions because she "facilitates her husband’s corrupt activities".
He is also accused of brutalising civilians in northern Uganda through murder, abduction, mutilation and the burning of property. The US government said the egregious behaviour of some of the most powerful people and companies in Zimbabwe matched the actions of the worst human rights abusers and corrupt actors in the world.
Last week, the ICC awarded reparations of €52m ($56m; £44.5m) to victims of LRA commander Dominic Ongwen. The US assured that "sanctions on theses individuals and entities do not represent sanctions on Zimbabwe or its public".
Read more: The government of Zimbabwe has not commented on the latest allegations but has dismissed previous sanctions as part of a Western plot to bring about political change.
Joseph Kony - child kidnapper, warlord, 'prophet'
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