The head of the armed wing of the Union of Congolese Patriots, Thomas Lubanga, was charged Wednesday at the International Criminal Court (ICC), in the ICC's first conviction.
Lubanga was charged for his part in the killing of thousands during the Democratic Republic of Congo's civil war (2002-2003).
Theo Boutrouche, DRC researcher at Amnesty International, said,
“This is a significant moment because it is the first ever verdict of the ICC since its establishment in 2002,”
“It is also significant because it will be one of the first cases to be adjudicated on crimes of conscripting children under the age of 15 and in the DRC the demand for justice from victims is immense."
“But another key issue is that Thomas Lubanga was not charged with any of the other crimes of the Patriotic Force for the Liberation of Congo such as unlawful killings, torture and rapes. So it was only partly addressing the serious human rights violations that were committed by this armed group.”
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