International Criminal Court investigation in the Democratic Republic of the Congo
The International Criminal Court investigation in the Democratic Republic of the Congo or the situation in the Democratic Republic of the Congo is an ongoing investigation by the International Criminal Court (ICC) into crimes committed in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) during the Second Congo War and its aftermath, including the Ituri and Kivu conflicts.[1] The war started in 1998 and despite a peace agreement between combatants in 2003, conflict continued in the eastern parts of the country for several years.[2] In April 2004 the government of the DRC formally referred the situation in the Congo to the International Criminal Court, and in June 2004, prosecutor Luis Moreno Ocampo, formally opened an investigation.[3] To date, arrest warrants have been issued for:
- Thomas Lubanga Dyilo
- Germain Katanga
- Mathieu Ngudjolo Chui
- Bosco Ntaganda
- Callixte Mbarushimana
- Sylvestre Mudacumura.[3]
 The seal of the International Criminal Court | |
| File no. | 01/04 |
|---|---|
| Referred by | Democratic Republic of the Congo |
| Date referred | 19 April 2004 |
| Date opened | 23 June 2004 |
| Incident(s) | |
| Crimes | Crimes against humanity: · Inhumane acts · Murder · Persecution · Rape · Sexual slavery · Torture War crimes: · Attacks against civilians · Conscripting of children · Destruction of property · Enlisting of children · Inhuman treatment · Murder · Pillaging · Rape · Sexual slavery · Torture · Using children in conflict |
| Status of suspects | |
| Germain Katanga | Convicted |
| Thomas Lubanga Dyilo | Sentenced to 14 years imprisonment |
| Callixte Mbarushimana | Charges not confirmed |
| Sylvestre Mudacumura | Fugitive |
| Mathieu Ngudjolo Chui | Acquitted |
| Bosco Ntaganda | In ICC custody |
Lubanga was imprisoned. Katanga was convicted, Chui was acquitted, and the pre-trial chamber declined to confirm the charges against Mbarushimana, currently a fugitive. Ntaganda turned himself in to the US Embassy in Kigali on 18 March 2013, requesting to be extradited to the ICC.[3][4] Sylvestre Mudacumura is a suspect, still at large.[5]