THE HAGUE, Netherlands – Mathieu Ngudjolo Chui, the former head of the Nationalist and Integrationist Fund (FNI) in the Democratic Republic of Congo and now a colonel in the Congolese army, was handed over to the International Criminal Court by Congo’s government today. 

Ngudjolo is accused of three counts of crimes against humanity – murder, sexual slavery, and inhumane acts.  He is also accused of six war crimes including the use of child soldiers.  He was arrested in Kinshasa yesterday and put on a plane to The Hague.  Ngudjolo allegedly planned a brutal attack on Bongoro village in the Eastern Ituri region in 2003.  200 civilians were killed in the attack and prosecutors allege it was part of a systematic campaign in 2003 directed against Ituri’s ethnic Hema people by the majority Lendu community.

The date of his first hearing should be announced shortly.  Ngudjolo is the third Congolese suspect to be taken into custody by the ICC, the world’s first permanent war crimes court.  In October 2007 Germain Katanga, also known as “Simba”, was transferred to the ICC to face war crimes charges.  In January 2007 the Court also indicted Thomas Lubanga for war crimes, including the use of child soldiers, and he became the first suspect to be taken into ICC custody. 

For more information, please see:

AFP – DR Congo war crimes suspect sent to international court – 7 February 2008

AP – Congo Turns Over War Crimes Suspect – 7 February 2008

BBC News – Congo warlord flown to The Hague – 7 February 2008

AllAfrica.com – Third Ex-Rebel Commander Charged With War Crimes – 7 February 2008