DRC situation: ICC issues a second arrest warrant for Bosco Ntaganda

Today, 13 July 2012, Pre-Trial Chamber II of the International Criminal Court (ICC) issued a new warrant of arrest for Bosco Ntaganda, following the request submitted on 14 May 2012 by the ICC Prosecutor.

Mr Ntaganda, approximately 41 years old, is suspected of committing war crimes and crimes against humanity, from 1 September 2002 to the end of September 2003, in the context of the conflict in Ituri, in the Democratic Republic of the 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 Bosco Ntaganda is responsible for three counts of crimes against humanity, consisting in murder, rape and sexual slavery, and persecution. In accordance with the warrant of arrest, Bosco Ntaganda allegedly bears individual criminal responsibility for four counts of war crimes consisting of murder, attacks against the civilian population, rape and sexual slavery, and pillaging.

The Chamber considered that the arrest of Bosco Ntaganda is necessary to ensure that he will appear before the judges and that he will not obstruct the investigation, as well as to prevent him from continuing with the commission of a crime within the ICC’s jurisdiction.

On 22 August 2006, a first arrest warrant was issued for Bosco Ntaganda, for three counts of war crimes allegedly committed in Ituri (the DRC): enlistment of children under the age of 15; conscription of children under the age of 15; and using children under the age of 15 to participate actively in hostilities.

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.

Public redacted version - Decision on the Prosecutor's Application under Article 58

For further information, please contact Fadi El Abdallah, Spokesperson and Head of Public Affairs Unit, International Criminal Court, by telephone at: +31 (0)70 515-9152 or +31 (0)6 46448938 or by e-mail at: [email protected].

You can also follow the Court’s activities on YouTube and Twitter.