Congolese war crimes suspect appears before International Criminal Court

Congolese militia leader Germain Katanga today made his first appearance before the International Criminal Court (ICC), where he faces charges of murder, sexual enslavement, forcing children to serve as soldiers and other war crimes.

The senior commander of the group Force de Résistance Patriotique en Ituri (FRPI), which has been active in fighting in the far east of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), is only the second suspect to appear before the ICC.

Mr. Katanga, who was surrendered to the court last week, is facing three counts of crimes against humanity and six counts of war crimes.

During today’s public hearing in The Hague, presiding judge Akua Kuenyehia informed Mr. Katanga of both the charges against him and his rights throughout the court process, including the right to apply for interim release pending trial.

Sylvia Steiner has been designated by the ICC’s pre-trial chamber as the single judge in the case, and the hearing to determine whether the charges will be confirmed has been set provisionally for 28 February. Mr. Katanga was also advised to appoint a defence lawyer as soon as possible.

Prosecutors said last week that Mr. Katanga – also known as Simba – is personally responsible for a series of brutal crimes in the Ituri region of the DRC, including a massacre in the village of Bogoro in February 2003 in which hundreds of people were killed and many women forced into sexual slavery.

Prosecutors allege Mr. Katanga, 29, is responsible for murders, inhumane acts and sexual enslavement at Bogoro, constituting crimes against humanity and war crimes, and for cruel treatment at Bogoro constituting a war crime. They also allege he committed the war crime of using children to participate actively in hostilities, the war crime of launching an attack against civilians and the war crime of pillaging.