Congolese Warlord ‘Thomas Lubanga’ Gets 14 Years

The International Criminal Court on Tuesday sentenced Congolese warlord Thomas Lubanga to 14 years in jail for using child soldiers in his rebel army, in the tribunal’s first such order.

“Taking into account all the factors… the court sentences Mr Lubanga to 14 years in prison,” presiding Judge Adrian Fulford told The Hague-based court.

He said the court has taken into account the time Lubanga has already spent behind bars since March 2006, meaning he will effectively spend eight years in prison. Lubanga, 51, was convicted in March of war crimes, specifically for using child soldiers in his rebel army in the Democratic Republic of Congo in 2002-03, in the ICC’s first verdict since it was set up a decade ago.



He was found guilty of abducting children as young as 11 and forcing them to fight and commit atrocities in the DRC’s northeastern gold-rich Ituri region. During the trial prosecutors told how young girls served as sex-slaves, while boys were trained to fight.

ICC places Nigeria under watch over Boko Haram violence

The International Criminal Court has placed Nigeria under watch over the violent attacks of the Boko Haram sect in parts of Northern Nigeria.

ICC Chief Prosecutor, Mrs. Fatou Bensounda, told journalists at the State House, Abuja on Tuesday, after a meeting with President Goodluck Jonathan, that the court had placed Nigeria under “preliminary examination” as a result of the violence.

She also said the attacks may be described as “crimes against humanity.” Bensouda, however, noted that the ICC was watching to see how the Nigerian government would handle the Boko Haram issue. (Punch)