Uganda Refers First Case to ICC and Chief Prosecutor Declares Congo as First Situs of Investigation

As the International Criminal Court operates, Uganda is the first country to refer a case to the ICC, while the Chief Prosecutor declared Congo as the first situs of investigation and appointed a former U.S. federal prosecutor to lead the investigation in Uganda. The Ugandan Government has referred the first case to the International Criminal Court, starting a process that could lead to the first ever trial before the ICC. The Ugandan Government asked the ICC to investigate the Lord?s Resistance Army, which the U.S. State Department has described as a terrorist group trying to impose ? a regime that will implement the group?s brand of Christianity. On January 29, Mr. Luis Moreno-Ocampo announced sufficient evidence existed to start a probe into grave human rights abuses committed by the LRA. He was responding to a petition lodged with the ICC by Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni...[more]