The trial in the case of Mr Thomas Lubanga Dyilo will commence on 31 March 2008

Situation: Democratic Republic of Congo
Case: The Prosecutor vs. Thomas Lubanga Dyilo

Trial Chamber I decided, on 9 November 2007, that the trial in the case of Mr Thomas Lubanga Dyilo shall commence on 31 March 2008. 

In the same decision, the Trial Chamber ordered the prosecution to serve the entirety of their evidence to the defence and possibly the victims representatives, including incriminatory and exculpatory material, by 14 December 2007. 

Background information

Investigations into grave crimes allegedly committed on the territory of the Democratic Republic of the Congo began in June 2004.
On 17 March 2006, Thomas Lubanga Dyilo, the founder and leader of the Union des patriotes congolais (Union of Congolese Patriots) was arrested and surrendered to the Court upon a warrant of arrest issued by Pre-Trial Chamber I at the request of the Prosecutor.
On 29 January 2007, Pre-Trial Chamber I confirmed the charges brought by the Prosecutor against Thomas Lubanga Dyilo, namely war crimes consisting of conscripting and enlisting children under the age of 15 into the FPLC, the military wing of the Union des patriotes congolais (UPC), and using them to participate actively in hostilities in Ituri, from September 2002 to 13 August 2003. The Presidency constituted Trial Chamber I and referred the case of The Prosecutor v. Thomas Lubanga Dyilo to it for the conduct of the trial phase. 

The Prosecutor v. Thomas Lubanga Dyilo is the first case that arose from the situation in Democratic Republic of the Congo; the second case is The Prosecutor v. Germain Katanga. However, investigations are ongoing in the DRC and other cases may follow.