Court details DR Congo 'war crimes' | |||
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Prosecutors have said that two former militia leaders from the Democratic Republic of Congo, sought to "wipe out" an entire village before seizing survivors as sex slaves and child soldiers. The two men have been accused of war crimes and crimes against humanity including murder, sexual slavery, rape, inhumane acts and recruiting child soldiers. "The prosecution's evidence ... will reveal that over 200 children, women, elderly and civilian men were killed in an attack during which women were sexually enslaved in camps and repeatedly raped," Fatou Bensouda, the court's deputy prosecutor, said on Friday. However the court has decided to go ahead with the hearing, as the proceedings are not as advanced. A "confirmation of charges" is being presented by the prosecution to the judges in order to support the charges against Katanga and Ngudjolo. This process will last several weeks and the court will then have 60 days to decide whether or not to go to trial. The Ituri conflict, which began after a peace accord officially ended Congo's 1998-2003 war, turned members from the Hema and Lendu ethnic groups against one another. Katanga, also known as "Simba" or lion, headed the Patriotic Forces of Resistance of Ituri (FRPI), while Ngudjolo led the allied Front of Nationalists and Integrationists (FPI) forces. Luis Moreno-Ocampo, chief prosecutor, said he hoped that the cases would help to heal the situation in Ituri. "Perpetrators will be held accountable ... the work of justice can help Ituri move forward," he said in a statement. |
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Jean-Louis Kayitenkore
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