Congo warlord in landmark trial
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Former Congolese militia leader Thomas Lubanga is due to go on trial shortly at the International Criminal Court (ICC) over the use of child soldiers.
Mr Lubanga faces six charges of recruiting and using children to fight during the DR Congo's brutal five-year conflict that ended in 2003.
Prosecutors say child soldiers were used to kill members of a rival ethnic group, or as Mr Lubanga's bodyguards.
The case is the first to come to trial before the ICC in The Hague.
This follows a seven-month delay, as judges and prosecutors at the world's first permanent war crimes court disputed confidential evidence.
Mr Lubanga, who is expected to enter not-guilty pleas, insists he was trying to bring peace to Ituri, a region in eastern Congo wracked by years of conflict between rival groups seeking to control its vast mineral wealth.
He was the leader of the Union of Congolese Patriots (UPC) and its armed wing at the time of the alleged crimes in 2002-2003, and still has strong support among his Hema community in Ituri.
Mr Lubanga faces six charges of recruiting and using children to fight during the DR Congo's brutal five-year conflict that ended in 2003.
Prosecutors say child soldiers were used to kill members of a rival ethnic group, or as Mr Lubanga's bodyguards.
The case is the first to come to trial before the ICC in The Hague.
This follows a seven-month delay, as judges and prosecutors at the world's first permanent war crimes court disputed confidential evidence.
Mr Lubanga, who is expected to enter not-guilty pleas, insists he was trying to bring peace to Ituri, a region in eastern Congo wracked by years of conflict between rival groups seeking to control its vast mineral wealth.
He was the leader of the Union of Congolese Patriots (UPC) and its armed wing at the time of the alleged crimes in 2002-2003, and still has strong support among his Hema community in Ituri.
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lj111
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this man should die and go to hell for what he did to those children especially the young girls.
- 3 years ago
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lj111
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Katanajon
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Calling all patriots.
- 3 years ago
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Katanajon
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Katanajon
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Another cousin?
- 3 years ago
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Katanajon
