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The Prosecutor v. Joseph Kony


Case Sheet · ICC

The Prosecutor v. Joseph Kony

Situation Situation in Uganda
Status Pre-Trial · At Large

Context

Joseph Kony is the alleged founder and leader of the Lord's Resistance Army (LRA). He is suspected of 39 counts of war crimes and crimes against humanity allegedly committed between at least 1 July 2002 and 31 December 2005 in northern Uganda. The suspect remains at large.

Pre-Trial

Application for arrest warrant 6 May 2005 (amended 13 May and 18 May 2005)
Arrest warrant 8 July 2005 (under seal) · Amended 27 September 2005 · Unsealed 13 October 2005
Crimes at arrest warrant Crime against humanity of murder · art. 7(1)(a) RS.
Crime against humanity of 
enslavement · art. 7(1)(c) RS.
Crime against humanity of rape · art. 7(1)(g)-1 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)(c)(i)-1 RS
War crime of cruel treatment · art. 8(2)(c)(i)-3 RS
War crime of attacking civilians · art. 8(2)(e)(i) RS
War crime of pillaging · art. 8(2)(e)(v) RS.
War crime of rape · art. 8(2)(e)(vi)-1 RS.
War crime of using, conscripting and enlisting children · art. 8(2)(e)(vii) RS.
Document containing charges 19 January 2024 · Amended 17 April 2025
Crimes at document containing charges Crime against humanity of murder · art. 7(1)(a) RS.
Crime against humanity of 
enslavement · art. 7(1)(c) RS.
Crime against humanity of torture · art. 7(1)(f) RS.
Crime against humanity of rape · art. 7(1)(g)-1 RS.
Crime against humanity of sexual slavery · art. 7(1)(g)-2 RS.
Crime against humanity of forced pregnancy · art. 7(1)(g)-4 RS.
Crime against humanity of other inhumane acts · art. 7(1) (k) RS.
War crime of murder · art. 8(2)(c)(i)-1 RS.
War crime of cruel treatment · art. 8(2)(c)(i)-3 RS.
War crime of torture · art. 8(2)(c)(i)-4 RS.
War crime of attacking civilians · art. 8(2)(e)(i) RS.
War crime of pillaging · art. 8(2)(e)(v) RS.
War crime of rape · art. 8(2)(e)(vi)-1 RS.
War crime of sexual slavery · art. 8(2)(e)(vi)-2 RS.
War crime of forced pregnancy · art. 8(2)(e)(vi)-4 RS.
War crime of using, conscripting and enlisting children · art. 8(2)(e)(vii) RS.
War crime of destroying the enemy’s property · art. 8(2)(e)(xii) RS.
Confirmation of charges hearing 9–10 September 2025 (in absentia)
Result of confirmation of charges All 39 charges confirmed · 6 November 2025
Crimes charged Crime against humanity of murder · art. 7(1)(a) RS.
Crime against humanity of 
enslavement · art. 7(1)(c) RS.
Crime against humanity of torture · art. 7(1)(f) RS.
Crime against humanity of rape · art. 7(1)(g)-1 RS.
Crime against humanity of sexual slavery · art. 7(1)(g)-2 RS.
Crime against humanity of forced pregnancy · art. 7(1)(g)-4 RS.
Crime against humanity of other inhumane acts · art. 7(1) (k) RS.
War crime of murder · art. 8(2)(c)(i)-1 RS.
War crime of cruel treatment · art. 8(2)(c)(i)-3 RS.
War crime of torture · art. 8(2)(c)(i)-4 RS.
War crime of attacking civilians · art. 8(2)(e)(i) RS.
War crime of pillaging · art. 8(2)(e)(v) RS.
War crime of rape · art. 8(2)(e)(vi)-1 RS.
War crime of sexual slavery · art. 8(2)(e)(vi)-2 RS.
War crime of forced pregnancy · art. 8(2)(e)(vi)-4 RS.
War crime of using, conscripting and enlisting children · art. 8(2)(e)(vii) RS.
War crime of destroying the enemy’s property · art. 8(2)(e)(xii) RS.

Key Documents

Warrant of arrest Warrant of Arrest for Joseph Kony (2005)
Amended warrant of arrest Amended Warrant of Arrest for Joseph Kony (2005)
Decision on unsealing Decision on the Unsealing of the Warrants of Arrest (2005)
Request to unseal warrants Application for Unsealing of Warrants of Arrest (2005)
Document containing charges Document Containing the Charges (2024)
Decision in absentia Decision on the Criteria for Holding Confirmation of Charges Proceedings in Absentia (2024)
Confirmation of charges decision Decision Confirming All 39 Charges against Joseph Kony (6 November 2025)
ICC case page Official ICC page — The Prosecutor v. Joseph Kony