KAMPALA, Uganda Joseph Kony, the head of the Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA), will face charges from the International Criminal Court (ICC) in absentia, the court has confirmed.

According to the October 29, 2024, ruling, all conditions needed to hold the confirmation hearing without Kony had been satisfied.

In an open court hearing on Tuesday, 3rd 2025, the Appeals Chamber, led by Judge Erdenebalsuren Damdin, decided that the ICC Rome Statute permits the confirmation of charges hearing to go forward without a suspect’s prior initial appearance in situations where the suspect is unlocatable.

Additional judges in the Appeals Chamber included Gocha Lordkipanidze, Joanna Korner, Kimberly Prost, and Ugandan Judge Solomy Balungi Bossa.

“This interpretation is consistent with the statute’s object and purpose and is not incompatible with the defense’s rights,” the judges concluded, according to the Appeals Chamber.

The judges further stated that even in situations where such an initial appearance has not occurred, the ICC Rome Statute offers sufficiently strong protections to uphold the suspect’s right to a fair trial.

Twelve counts of crimes against humanity, including murder, enslavement, sexual enslavement, rape, and inhumane acts of causing serious bodily harm and suffering, are brought against Kony.

Murder, inhumane treatment of civilians, purposeful targeting of a civilian population, pillaging, rape inciting, and coercive child enlistment are among the 21 counts of war crimes.

In addition to being charged with 33 counts of war crimes and crimes against humanity allegedly committed in Northern Uganda between 2003 and 2004, Kony founded the LRA in 1986, which tore through the region for more than 20 years.

 The hearing will take place at the Dutch court in The Hague on September 9 of this year.