DRC situation: ICC issues an arrest warrant for Sylvestre Mudacumura
Today, 13 July 2012, Pre-Trial Chamber II of the International Criminal Court (ICC) issued a warrant of arrest for Sylvestre Mudacumura, following the request of the ICC Prosecutor.
Mr Mudacumura, born in Rwanda and 58 years old, is suspected of committing war crimes, from 20 January 2009 to the end of September 2010, in the context of the conflict in the Kivus, in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). Basing its decision on the evidence presented by the Prosecutor, Pre-Trial Chamber II considered that there are reasonable grounds to believe that Mr Mudacumura is responsible for nine counts of war crimes, consisting of attacking civilians, murder, mutilation, cruel treatment, rape, torture, destruction of property, pillaging and outrages against personal dignity. In accordance with the warrant of arrest, Mr Mudacumura has allegedly engaged his individual criminal responsibility under article 25(3)(b) of the Rome Statute for ordering these nine counts of war crimes.
The Chamber considered that the arrest of Mr Mudacumura is necessary to ensure that he will appear before the Judges and that he will not obstruct the court proceedings, as well as to prevent him from continuing with the commission of a crime within the ICC’s jurisdiction.
The DRC ratified the Rome Statute, the founding instrument of the ICC, on 11 April 2002. On 3 March 2004, the Government of the DRC referred to the Court the situation (the events falling under the Court’s jurisdiction) in its territory since the entry into force of the Rome Statute on 1 July 2002. After a preliminary analysis, the Prosecutor initiated an investigation on 21 June 2004.
Decision on the Prosecutor's Application under Article 58
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