The former Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA) commander, Dominic Ongwen, is set to serve his sentence in Norway.
In May 2021, the International Criminal Court (ICC) sentenced Ongwen to 25 years of imprisonment.
Dominic Ongwen is accused of 70 counts of war crimes and crimes against humanity allegedly committed while commanding LRA rebels who attacked four camps for displaced people in Pajule in Pader District, Abok, Lukodi, Odek in Gulu, and Oyam districts in 2003 and 2004, killing, raping, and looting, among other crimes committed by the insurgents.
In February 2021, court found Ongwen guilty of 61 charges, which include murder, enslavement, and torture. According to the court ruling, the ex-LRA commander was found guilty of war crimes committed at Pajule camp, rape committed in 2003 and 2005, sexual slavery, among others.
Yesterday, he was transferred to a prison facility in the Kingdom of Norway to serve his sentence. He is the fifth person transferred by the International Criminal Court (ICC) to a state that has indicated its willingness to accept sentenced persons.
On November 9, 2023, the Presidency of the ICC designated Norway as the state of enforcement for the sentence of imprisonment of Ongwen, pursuant to Article 103 of the Rome Statute.
The Presidency noted that the enforcement of the sentence of imprisonment shall be subject to the supervision of the Court and shall be consistent with widely accepted international standards governing the treatment of prisoners.
The transfer of Ongwen to Norway occurred with the close cooperation of the Norwegian authorities and the support of the Dutch authorities. The ICC relies on the support of states for the enforcement of its sentences and is highly appreciative of the voluntary cooperation of Norway in this case.
