BRIEF: Congo War Crimes Suspect Transferred to ICC

KINSHASA, Democratic Republic of Congo – A former Congolese warlord was transferred to the International Criminal Court in The Hague today to face war crimes charges including murder, sexual slavery, and recruiting child soldiers.  Germain Katanga led the Patriotic Forces of Resistance of Ituri (FRPI) militia in northern DRC.  He is the second suspect to be transferred to the ICC.

The ICC prosecutor alleges that Katanga’s FRPI fighters committed criminal acts against mostly civilians of the Hema ethnic group in Ituri province between January and March 2003.  Katanga is charged with 3 counts of crimes against humanity and 6 counts of war crimes for his involvement.  200 civilians were massacred, women and girls were raped and enslaved, and villagers were imprisoned in a room filled with corpses. Katanga is also charged with using child soldiers in the attack.

For more information, please see:

Reuters – Second Congo war crimes suspect transferred to ICC – 18 October 2007

AllAfrica.com – Congo-Kinshasa: Second War Crimes Suspect to Face Justice in the Hague – 18 October 2007

Institute for War and Peace Reporting – Second Congolese Rebel in ICC Custody – 18 October 2007

AP – Hague Court Says 2nd Congo Suspect Held – 18 October 2007

Author: Impunity Watch Archive