War criminals: some of the world’s most wanted
The International Criminal Court was set up after genocide in Rwanda and the former Yugoslavia. The arrest of Radko Maldic is a notable success, but who remains at large among those it has indicted?
Omar al-Bashir, President of Sudan, was indicted on 4th March 2009 with five counts of crimes against humanity and two counts of war crimes, related to the situation in Darfur, Sudan. He is openly living in Sudan and since the warrants were issued he has travelled to several countries and not been arrested.
Ahmed Haroun is alleged to have co-ordinated the operations of Sudanese military, police and Janjaweed forces in Darfur while he was Minister of State for the Interior in Sudan. He was indicted on 27th April 2007 on 20 counts of crimes against humanity and 22 war crimes. He has continued to play an active role in the Sudanese government, which has refused to co-operate with the Court.
Joseph Kony is the alleged leader of the Lord’s Resistance Army, an armed rebel group that operated in Uganda. He was indicted in July 2005 on 12 counts of crimes against humanity and 21 counts of war crimes. Is currently at large and his whereabouts are unknown, although he is suspected to be in either Uganda or neighbouring countries.
Ali Kushayb is alleged to be a senior leader in the tribal hierarchy in Darfur. He is accused of implementing the Sudanese government’s policy in Darfur and ordering attacks on the civilian population. He was indicted in April 2007 on 22 counts of crimes against humanity and 28 counts of war crimes. Although the Sudanese government has refused to co-operate with the court it was reported that in 2008 Kushayb was arrested in Sudan. It is not known where he is now.
Bosco Ntaganda is alleged to be a third highest ranking official in the Patriotic Force for the Liberation of the Congo, a rebel movement in the northeast part of the Democratic Republic of Congo. He was indicted on 22 August 2006 on three counts of war crimes. Since being indicted, Ntaganda has become a general in the Congolese armed forces and lives in the Kivu province of eastern Congo.
Okot Odhiambo is alleged to be an integral member of the Lord’s Resistance Army an armed group opposing the government in Uganda. He was indicted on 8 July 2005 on three counts of crimes against humanity and seven counts of war crimes. Odhiambo is currently at large as a fugitive.
Dominic Ongwen. A military commander and member of the Lord’s resistance Army, Ongwen was indicted in July 2005 on three counts of crimes against humanity and four counts of war crimes. He is suspected to be in Uganda or a neighbouring country.
Vincent Otti, also alleged to have been a commander in the Lord’s Resistance Army. Indicted in 2005 on eleven counts of crimes against humanity and 21 counts of war crimes. Reports that he has died have not been independently verified.