International Criminal Law · Analysis and Cases

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The Prosecutor v. Germain Katanga


Case Sheet · ICC

The Prosecutor v. Germain Katanga

Situation Situation in the Democratic Republic of the Congo I
Status Closed · Convicted

Context

Germain Katanga was alleged commander of the Force de résistance patriotique en Ituri (FRPI). He was found guilty on 7 March 2014 as an accessory of one count of crime against humanity and four counts of war crimes committed during an attack on the village of Bogoro, in Ituri, DRC, on 24 February 2003. He was sentenced to 12 years of imprisonment, which he completed on 18 January 2016.

Pre-Trial

Arrest warrant 2 July 2007
Crimes at arrest warrant Crime against humanity of murder · art. 7(1)(a) RS
Crime against humanity of sexual slavery · art. 7(1)(g)-2 RS
Crime against humanity of other inhumane acts · art. 7(1)(k) RS
War crime of murder · art. 8(2)(a)(i) RS / art. 8(2)(c)(i)-1 RS
War crime of inhumane/cruel treatment · art. 8(2)(a)(ii)-2 RS / art. 8(2)(c)(i)-3 RS
War crime of attacking civilians · art. 8(2)(b)(i) RS / art. 8(2)(e)(i) RS
War crime of pillaging · art. 8(2)(b)(xvi) RS / art. 8(2)(e)(v) RS
War crime of sexual slavery · art. 8(2)(b)(xxii)-2 RS / art. 8(2)(e)(vi)-2 RS
War crime of using, conscripting and enlisting children · art. 8(2)(b)(xxvi) RS / art. 8(2)(e)(vii) RS
Transfer to ICC custody 17 October 2007
Document containing charges 12 June 2008
Crimes at document containing charges Crime against humanity of murder · art. 7(1)(a) RS
Crime against humanity of rape · art. 7(1)(g)-2 RS
Crime against humanity of sexual slavery · art. 7(1)(g)-1 RS
Crime against humanity of other inhumane acts · art. 7(1)(k) RS
War crime of murder art. 8(2)(a)(i) / art. 8(2)(c)(i) RS
War crime of inhumane/cruel treatment · art. 8(2)(a)(ii)-2 RS / art. 8(2)(c)(i)-3 RS
War crime of attacking civilians · art. 8(2)(b)(i) RS / art. 8(2)(e)(i) RS
War crime of outrages upon personal dignity · art. 8(2)(b)(xxi) RS / art. 8(2)(c)(ii) RS
War crime of destruction of property · art. 8(2)(b)(xiii) RS / art. 8(2)(e)(xii) RS
War crime of pillaging · art. 8(2)(b)(xvi) RS / art. 8(2)(e)(v) RS
War crime of rape · art. 8(2)(b)(xxii)-1 RS / art. 8(2)(e)(vi)-1 RS
War crime of sexual slavery · art. 8(2)(b)(xxii)-2 RS / art. 8(2)(e)(vi)-2 RS
War crime of using, conscripting and enlisting children · art. 8(2)(b)(xxvi) RS / art. 8(2)(e)(vii) RS
Confirmation of charges hearing 27 June – 16 July 2008
Result of confirmation of charges Charges confirmed · 26 September 2008
Crimes charged Crime against humanity of murder · art. 7(1)(a) RS
Crime against humanity of rape · art. 7(1)(g)-1 RS
Crime against humanity of sexual slavery · art. 7(1)(g)-2 RS
War crime of murder · art. 8(2)(a)(i) RS
War crime of attacking civilians · art. 8(2)(b)(i) RS
War crime of destruction of property · art. 8(2)(b)(xiii) RS
War crime of pillaging · art. 8(2)(b)(xvi) RS
War crime of rape · art. 8(2)(b)(xxii)-1 RS
War crime of sexual slavery · art. 8(2)(b)(xxii)-2 RS
War crime of using, conscripting and enlisting children · art. 8(2)(b)(xxvi) RS

Trial

Trial opening 24 November 2009
Trial judgment 7 March 2014 · Convicted as accessory
Crimes at trial judgment Crime against humanity of murder · art. 7(1)(a) RS
War crime of murder · art. 8(2)(c)(i)-1 RS
War crime of attacking civilians · art. 8(2)(e)(i) RS
War crime of destruction of property · art. 8(2)(e)(xii) RS
War crime of pillaging · art. 8(2)(e)(v) RS
Sentence 23 May 2014 · 12 years of imprisonment
Appeals discontinued 25 June 2014 · Judgment final
Sentence reduced 13 November 2015
Transfer to serve sentence 19 December 2015 · Democratic Republic of the Congo
Sentence completed 18 January 2016

Reparations

Reparations order 24 March 2017
Appeal on reparations 8 March 2018 · Reparations order confirmed for the most part
Reparations proceedings concluded 30 January 2025
Ammount 297 victims awarded symbolic compensation of USD 250 per victim, plus collective reparations including support for housing, income-generating activities, education aid and psychological support

Key Documents

Warrant of arrest Warrant of Arrest for Germain Katanga (2007)
Document containing charges Document Containing the Charges (2008)
Confirmation of charges decision Decision on Confirmation of Charges (2008)
Trial judgment Trial Judgment (7 March 2014)
Sentence reduction Decision on Sentence Reduction (13 November 2015)
Reparations order Order for Reparations to Victims (2017)
Appeal on reparations Appeals Chamber Judgment on Reparations (2018)
Conclusion of reparations proceedings Decision on the Conclusion of Reparations Proceedings (30 January 2025)
ICC case page Official ICC page — The Prosecutor v. Germain Katanga