ICC to make ruling on former DRC military commander

Former Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) military commander Germain Katanga. [Photo: Courtesy]

BY WAHOME THUKU

THE HAGUE: The International Criminal Court (ICC) will today deliver its judgment in the trial of former Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) military commander Germain Katanga.

It will be the second judgment in a trial case since the court was established in 2002.

The judgment, to be delivered this morning, will be closely watched by Kenyans and the international community keenly following a similar ongoing trial against President Uhuru Kenyatta, his deputy William Ruto and radio journalist Joshua Sang.

Mr Katanga alias Simba is facing three charges of crimes against humanity including murder, sexual slavery and rape, and seven war crimes involving use of children in hostilities.

The charges were confirmed on September 26, 2008 and the trial began on November 24, 2009. It ended on November 21, 2012 when some charges were dropped.

On March 14, 2012 the Trial Chamber 1 convicted another Congolese warlord Thomas Lubanga Dyilo of committing war crimes as a co-perpetrator. He was found guilty of enlisting and conscripting children under the age of 15 into the Patriotic Force for the Liberation of Congo and using them to participate actively in armed conflict between September 2002 and August 2003.

Four months later he was sentenced to 14 years in jail.