A hearing to confirm charges against notorious Lord’s Resistance Army rebel Dominic Ongwen should be held in Uganda. That is according to the International Criminal Court, as it drops the case against a second LRA leader.
“The chamber considers that it would be desirable and in the interest of justice to hold the confirmation of charges hearing in Uganda,” the ICC judges said in a statement.
The case should be heard “closest to the location of the alleged crimes”, if possible the northern town of Gulu, or the capital Kampala.
Ongwen, a former child soldier-turned-warlord, faced the ICC judges earlier this year for the first time on charges of war crimes and crimes against humanity.
He was handed over to the Netherlands-based court in January following his surprise surrender to US forces, who are helping Uganda track down LRA rebels.
The ICC’s presidency will now consult Uganda before making a final decision
