In a landmark decision, the International Criminal Court (ICC) in The Hague, Netherlands, has officially confirmed war crimes and crimes against humanity charges against Joseph Kony, the notorious Ugandan warlord who remains at large. A three-judge panel concluded there is substantial evidence to hold Kony accountable for 29 counts, including murder, sexual enslavement, and rape, committed during his leadership of the Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA), a brutal militia that terrorized northern Uganda for decades. The court’s ruling marks a significant step in the pursuit of justice for the victims of Kony’s atrocities, despite his continued evasion of capture. The ICC held its first-ever in absentia hearing for Kony, a move that has sparked debate over the fairness of such proceedings. Deputy Prosecutor Mame Mandiaye Niang emphasized the devastating impact of Kony’s actions, stating, ‘The social and cultural fabric of Northern Uganda has been torn apart and is still struggling to rebuild itself.’ Kony gained global notoriety in 2012 when a viral video exposed his crimes, yet international efforts to apprehend him have so far failed. Court-appointed defense counsel argued that the in absentia hearing violated Kony’s right to a fair trial, with lawyer Peter Haynes noting, ‘The empty chair impacted the preparation of the defense.’ The case is seen as a test for the ICC, potentially paving the way for other high-profile trials where suspects are unlikely to be detained, including those involving Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Russian President Vladimir Putin. The LRA, founded by Kony in the 1980s, initially sought to overthrow the Ugandan government before expanding its operations to neighboring countries, leaving a trail of destruction marked by the use of child soldiers, civilian mutilations, and the enslavement of women.