Cases
The Prosecutor v. Ngudjolo
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Allegations & Charges
Factual Allegations
Mathieu Ngudjolo Chui (Ngudjolo) was allegedly one of three Commanders of the Front des nationalistes et intégrationnistes (Allied Forces of the Nationalist and Integrationist Front, FNI), one of several armed groups fighting for political and military control of Ituri in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Between August 2002 and May 2003, many armed groups as well as neighboring states engaged in a violent conflict to control natural resources in Ituri. The ICC Office of the Prosecutor (OTP) alleged that as the highest ranking commander of the FNI, Ngudjolo played an essential role in the planning and the implementation of an attack against Bogoro village in Ituri, on or around February 24, 2003, together with commanders of the FRPI, including Germain Katanga. The OTP alleged that Ngudjolo and commanders directed the attack against civilians as well as the military camp that existed in Bogoro, pursuant to a plan to “wipe out” or “raze” Bogoro and its predominantly Hema civilian population. In implementing this plan, the attackers engaged in widespread killing and imprisonment, destroyed civilian homes, raped civilian women and girls, and prevented civilians from fleeing. Children under the age of 15 allegedly participated in the attack, which resulted in the death of 200 civilians. The FNI and FRPI allegedly also pillaged the property mainly of Hema civilians of Bogoro after the attack, and abducted women and girls from Bogoro and used them as “wives” of FNI and FRPI combatants.
Please visit the Court’s website for more information on The Prosecutor v. Ngudjolo.
Charges
The Accused is alleged to have committed the crimes listed below as an individual, jointly with another, or through another person (Article 25(3)(a) of the Rome Statute).
Under this mode of criminal liability, the Accused is charged with the following atrocity crimes:
Murder (Crime against Humanity): Article 7(1)(a)
Rape (Crime against Humanity): Article 7(1)(g)-1
Sexual Slavery (Crime against Humanity): Article 7(1)(g)-2
Enlisting and Conscripting as Child Soldiers (War Crime): Article 8(2)(b)(xxvi)
Attacks against Civilians (War Crime): Article 8(2)(b)(i)
Willful Killing (War Crime): Article (2)(a)(i)
Destruction of Property (War Crime): Article 8(2)(b)(xiii)
Pillaging (War Crime): Article 8(2)(b)(xvi)
Sexual Slavery (War Crime): Article 8(2)(b)(xxii)
Rape (War Crime): Article 8(2)(b)(xxii)
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Key Events
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Pre-Trial Chamber I issued a sealed arrest warrant for Ngudjolo on July 6, 2007, which was unsealed on October 10, 2007. Ngudjolo was arrested on February 6, 2008. Charges were confirmed against him on September 26, 2008. The Appeals Chamber confirmed Trial Chamber II’s decision of December 18, 2012 acquitting Ngudjolo of charges of crimes against humanity on February 27, 2015.
- Arrest Warrant Issued : July 2, 2007
- Initial Appearance : February 11, 2008
- Joining of the cases of Germain Katanga and Mathieu Ngudjolo Chui : March 10, 2008
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Decision on confirmation of charges
Confirmation of Charges : September 26, 2008
Press release - Start of Trial : November 24, 2009
- End of Trial : May 23, 2012
- Severing of the cases of Germain Katanga and Mathieu Ngudjolo Chui : November 21, 2012
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Decision of acquittal
Trial Judgement : December 18, 2012
Press release -
Decision upholding verdict
Appeal Rejected : February 27, 2015
Press release
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