Thu Dec 05 14:00:00 UTC 2024: ## Ugandan Lawyer Questions ICC’s Colonialism in Ongwen Child Soldier Case
**The Hague, Netherlands** – The International Criminal Court (ICC) is facing accusations of neo-colonialism as it prosecutes Dominic Ongwen, a former child soldier abducted by Joseph Kony’s Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA) in Uganda. Ongwen’s defence lawyer, Krispus Ayena, is challenging the legitimacy of the court’s proceedings, arguing that prosecuting a victim turned perpetrator in a distant international court raises critical questions about justice and accountability.
Ongwen, abducted at the age of nine and forced to participate in the LRA’s atrocities, faces 70 counts of war crimes, including torture, rape, and murder. While acknowledging the severity of the charges, Ayena is arguing for an acquittal, highlighting the complex ethical dilemma of holding someone accountable for crimes committed after experiencing profound trauma and exploitation as a child. The case underscores the debate surrounding the ICC’s jurisdiction and its impact on post-conflict societies, particularly in Africa. The documentary film “Theatre of Violence” explores the complexities of this situation.
First Piper 