Sudan Agrees to Execute ICC Arrest Warrant Against Kony

The Sudanese Government has agreed to execute an arrest warrant issued by the International Criminal Court (ICC) and arrest Joseph Kony. Kony is the leader of the Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA), a Ugandan rebel group, and is wanted by the ICC to answer to charges of war crimes and crimes against humanity. Sudan is not a state party to the ICC but has turned over wanted fugitives in the past. For the past 20 years, the LRA has terrorized northern Uganda and southern Sudan. Some of the atrocities committed by the LRA include the abduction of children from their homes, conscription of young boys and girls into the rebel army and forcing girls to act as sex slaves.

The arrest warrants against Kony and other LRA leaders were issued by the ICC in July 2005. The International Police (Interpol) recently joined the search for Kony and his commanders by issuing Red (wanted persons) Notices in 184 countries, including Sudan. These notices are the first to be issued by Interpol for the ICC. Interpol and ICC signed a co-operation agreement in 2005 allowing the ICC access to Interpol’s global police communications system.

Ocampo dismissed attempts by Kony to negotiate a political deal, stating that he is just trying to “buy time” and regroup. On May 2nd, Kony and his deputy Vincent Otti held a video tape meeting with Southern Sudanese Vice President Reik Machar, urging the ICC to drop the war crimes charges against him, stating that he is a “freedom fighter” and that he is ready to begin peace talks with President Yoweri Museveni’s government. Museveni has given Kony and the LRA until the end of the July to stop fighting. Despite the fact that Museveni agreed to peace talks, the ICC Chief Prosecutor has made it clear that Kony is still under the jurisdiction of the ICC and when arrested, he will be tried for war crimes and crimes against humanity.


Updated June 13, 2006

ICC Issues Arrest Warrants for LRA Leaders

Warrants are historic first for new Court.

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