On Thursday, February 4, 2021, Dominic Ongwen was found guilty by the International Criminal Court of war crimes and crimes against humanity during the more than two decade war in Northern Uganda. Abducted at the age of nine and forced to fight in the Lord’s Resistance Army, he is the first known person to be convicted of the same crimes of which he is also a victim.
Previous research conducted by SPPGA Associate Professor Erin Baines and the Justice and Reconciliation Project in Uganda generated debate in Uganda and globally, and informed the defence of Ongwen at the International Criminal Court.
Known as the “White Ant”, convicted war criminal Dominic Ongwen is estimated to have been between nine and 14 years old when he was abducted by the Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA) as he was walking to school in northern Uganda – going on over the next 27 years to become a ruthless rebel commander. – BBC News
Dominic Ongwen, 2007 Juba Peace Talks
Photo Credit: The Justice and Reconciliation Project
For more information see Prof. Erin Baines’ article: Complex Political Perpetrators: Reflections on Dominic Ongwen.
