The Prosecutor v. Thomas Lubanga Dyilo

Case Sheet · ICC

The Prosecutor v. Thomas Lubanga Dyilo

Situation Situation in the Democratic Republic of the Congo
Case Number ICC-01/04-01/06
Status Reparations Stage

Context

Thomas Lubanga Dyilo was the founder and leader of the Union des Patriotes Congolais (UPC) and commander-in-chief of its military wing, the Forces Patriotiques pour la Libération du Congo (FPLC). He was charged with war crimes committed in the Ituri region of the Democratic Republic of the Congo between 2002 and 2003. The case is notable as the first trial before the ICC and focused on the enlistment, conscription, and use of child soldiers under the age of fifteen. He was convicted on 14 March 2012 and sentenced to 14 years of imprisonment.

Pre-Trial

Application for Arrest Warrant 13 January 2006
Arrest Warrant 10 February 2006 (Secret) · 17 March 2006 (Public) 
Crimes at Arrest Warrant
War crimes
War crime of enlisting children under 15 · art. 8(2)(b)(xxvi) / 8(2)(e)(vii) RS
War crime of conscription of children under 15 · art. 8(2)(b)(xxvi) / 8(2)(e)(vii) RS
War crime of using children under 15 in hostilities · art. 8(2)(b)(xxvi) / 8(2)(e)(vii) RS
Arrest and Transfer to ICC 17 March 2006 · Arrested by DRC
Initial Appearance 20 March 2006
Crimes at Document Containing Charges
War crimes
War crime of enlisting children under 15 · art. 8(2)(b)(xxvi) / 8(2)(e)(vii) RS
War crime of conscription of children under 15 · art. 8(2)(b)(xxvi) / 8(2)(e)(vii) RS
War crime of using children under 15 in hostilities · art. 8(2)(b)(xxvi) / 8(2)(e)(vii) RS
Confirmation of Charges Hearing 9 - 28 November 2006
Result of Confirmation of Charges 29 January 2007 · Charges confirmed 
Crimes Confirmed
War crimes
War crime of enlisting children under 15 · art. 8(2)(b)(xxvi) / 8(2)(e)(vii) RS
War crime of conscription of children under 15 · art. 8(2)(b)(xxvi) / 8(2)(e)(vii) RS
War crime of using children under 15 in hostilities · art. 8(2)(b)(xxvi) / 8(2)(e)(vii) RS

Trial

Trial Chamber Trial Chamber I · Judges: Judge Adrian Fulford (Presiding), Judge Elizabeth Odio Benito, Judge René Blattmann
Trial Opening 26 January 2009
Trial Judgment 14 March 2012
Crimes at Trial Judgment
War crimes
War crime of enlisting children under 15 · art. 8(2)(b)(xxvi) / 8(2)(e)(vii) RS
War crime of conscription of children under 15 · art. 8(2)(b)(xxvi) / 8(2)(e)(vii) RS
War crime of using children under 15 in hostilities · art. 8(2)(b)(xxvi) / 8(2)(e)(vii) RS
Sentence 10 July 2012 · 14 years of imprisonment

Appeal

Appeals Chamber Judges: Judge Erkki Kourula (Presiding), Judge Sang-Hyun Song, Judge Sanji Mmasenono Monageng, Judge Anita Ušacka, Judge Ekaterina Trendafilova
Appeals Filed by Defence
Appeal Judgment 1 December 2014 
Crimes at Appeal Judgment
War crimes
War crime of enlisting children under 15 · art. 8(2)(b)(xxvi) / 8(2)(e)(vii) RS
War crime of conscription of children under 15 · art. 8(2)(b)(xxvi) / 8(2)(e)(vii) RS
War crime of using children under 15 in hostilities · art. 8(2)(b)(xxvi) / 8(2)(e)(vii) RS
Final Sentence 14 years of imprisonment
Transfer to Serve Sentence 19 December 2015 · Democratic Republic of the Congo
15 March 2020 · Release

Reparations

Reparations Decision 7 August 2012
Amount 10,000,000 USD

Key Documents

Warrant of Arrest Warrant of Arrest (2006)
Document Containing Charges Document Containing Charges (2006)
Confirmation of Charges Decision Decision on Confirmation of Charges (2007)
Trial Judgment Trial Judgment (2012)
Sentencing Decision Sentencing Decision (2012)
Appeal Judgment Appeal Judgment (2014)
Reparations Decision Order on Reparations (2012)
ICC Case Page Official ICC page