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| Congolese warlord Bosco Ntaganda in custody at International Criminal Court | Congolese warlord Bosco Ntaganda in custody at International Criminal Court |
| (10 days later) | |
| The Congolese warlord Bosco Ntaganda was taken into custody by the International Criminal Court on Friday after giving himself up in Rwanda earlier this week, and was last night being flown to The Hague to stand trial on charges of overseeing atrocities in eastern Congo a decade ago. | The Congolese warlord Bosco Ntaganda was taken into custody by the International Criminal Court on Friday after giving himself up in Rwanda earlier this week, and was last night being flown to The Hague to stand trial on charges of overseeing atrocities in eastern Congo a decade ago. |
| The announcement brought to an end Ntaganda's time as one of the court's longest-standing fugitives nearly seven years after he was first indicted, and was a crucial step in bringing to justice one of Africa's most notorious warlords. | The announcement brought to an end Ntaganda's time as one of the court's longest-standing fugitives nearly seven years after he was first indicted, and was a crucial step in bringing to justice one of Africa's most notorious warlords. |
| Nicknamed "the Terminator" because of his reputation for ruthlessness in battle, Ntaganda became a symbol of impunity in Africa, at times playing tennis in eastern Congo apparently without fear of arrest. | Nicknamed "the Terminator" because of his reputation for ruthlessness in battle, Ntaganda became a symbol of impunity in Africa, at times playing tennis in eastern Congo apparently without fear of arrest. |
| Despite his 2006 ICC indictment, Ntaganda joined the Congolese army in 2009 as a general following a peace deal that paved the way for him and his men to be integrated into the military. He was allowed to live freely in the provincial capital, Goma, where he also dined at top restaurants. | Despite his 2006 ICC indictment, Ntaganda joined the Congolese army in 2009 as a general following a peace deal that paved the way for him and his men to be integrated into the military. He was allowed to live freely in the provincial capital, Goma, where he also dined at top restaurants. |
| Last year, however, the agreement between the former warlord and the Congolese government disintegrated, and he and his troops defected, becoming known as M23 and battling Congolese government troops in the country's jungle-clad east. | Last year, however, the agreement between the former warlord and the Congolese government disintegrated, and he and his troops defected, becoming known as M23 and battling Congolese government troops in the country's jungle-clad east. |
| Ntaganda is believed to have turned himself in after becoming vulnerable when his M23 rebel group split into two camps last month over the decision to bow to international pressure and withdraw from Goma late last year. Ntaganda and another rebel leader, Jean-Marie Runiga, had opposed any pullout, but a rebel general, Sultani Makenga, ordered a retreat and initiated peace talks with the Congolese government. | Ntaganda is believed to have turned himself in after becoming vulnerable when his M23 rebel group split into two camps last month over the decision to bow to international pressure and withdraw from Goma late last year. Ntaganda and another rebel leader, Jean-Marie Runiga, had opposed any pullout, but a rebel general, Sultani Makenga, ordered a retreat and initiated peace talks with the Congolese government. |
| Ntaganda was turned over to ICC staff in the Rwandan capital, Kigali, where he gave himself up at the US embassy on Monday. He is the first indicted suspect to surrender to the court's custody voluntarily. | Ntaganda was turned over to ICC staff in the Rwandan capital, Kigali, where he gave himself up at the US embassy on Monday. He is the first indicted suspect to surrender to the court's custody voluntarily. |
| Ntaganda was taken out of the embassy amid tight security. Armed forces were stationed along the main road to the airport, and there were more troops at the airport. | Ntaganda was taken out of the embassy amid tight security. Armed forces were stationed along the main road to the airport, and there were more troops at the airport. |
| An official at the US embassy in Kigali, who insisted on anonymity because he is not authorised to speak publicly, told the Associated Press that ICC officials arrived aboard a private jet. | An official at the US embassy in Kigali, who insisted on anonymity because he is not authorised to speak publicly, told the Associated Press that ICC officials arrived aboard a private jet. |
| "They were given time to ask Ntaganda a few questions. At noon, all embassy workers were asked to leave to allow a clear passage," the official said. | "They were given time to ask Ntaganda a few questions. At noon, all embassy workers were asked to leave to allow a clear passage," the official said. |
| Ntaganda faces charges including murder, rape, sexual slavery and using child soldiers in brutal fighting in the eastern Congo region of Ituri in 2002-03. If convicted, he faces a maximum sentence of life imprisonment. | Ntaganda faces charges including murder, rape, sexual slavery and using child soldiers in brutal fighting in the eastern Congo region of Ituri in 2002-03. If convicted, he faces a maximum sentence of life imprisonment. |
| The court's prosecutor, Fatou Bensouda, welcomed his transfer as a great day for victims in Congo. | The court's prosecutor, Fatou Bensouda, welcomed his transfer as a great day for victims in Congo. |
| "Today those who have long suffered at the hands of Bosco Ntaganda can look forward to the future and the prospect of justice secured," Bensouda said in a statement. | "Today those who have long suffered at the hands of Bosco Ntaganda can look forward to the future and the prospect of justice secured," Bensouda said in a statement. |
| When he arrives in the Netherlands, Ntaganda will be taken to a cell in the court's detention unit to await his arraignment, which is likely some time next week, before a panel of judges. He will be given a medical checkup and a defence attorney will be appointed for him. | When he arrives in the Netherlands, Ntaganda will be taken to a cell in the court's detention unit to await his arraignment, which is likely some time next week, before a panel of judges. He will be given a medical checkup and a defence attorney will be appointed for him. |
| The court thanked the US and Rwanda – neither country is an ICC member state – for their role in Ntaganda's detention. | The court thanked the US and Rwanda – neither country is an ICC member state – for their role in Ntaganda's detention. |
| "This operation would not have been possible without the support of the Rwandan authorities," the court said in a statement. | "This operation would not have been possible without the support of the Rwandan authorities," the court said in a statement. |
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