DR Congo Rebel Leader to Face Trial

The International Criminal Court in The Hague ruled Monday there is enough evidence to prosecute a warlord from the Democratic Republic of Congo.

Thomas Lubanga will become the court’s first case, based on charges his Union of Congolese Patriots militia abducted children as young as 10 for training as fighters.

The 45-year-old has been in detention at The Hague since last March as the court considered whether to prosecute him. Prosecutors alleged Lubanga’s group snatched children and forced them to fight for the ethnic Hema militia against Lendu rivals, the BBC reported.

Lubanga denies all the charges against him.

His lawyers claim Lubanga is being punished by the international community for refusing to give mining concessions in areas he controlled to foreign companies.

The ICC is an independent, permanent court of last resort that tries people accused of the most serious crimes of international concern, based on a treaty signed by 104 countries.