International Criminal Court to Hold Confirmation of Charges Hearing in Joseph Kony Case
The International Criminal Court (ICC) announced that the confirmation of charges hearing in the case against Joseph Kony is scheduled to commence on Tuesday, 9 September 2025, at 9:30 AM (The Hague local time). The proceedings will be held before Pre-Trial Chamber III, presided over by Judge Althea Violet Alexis-Windsor, alongside Judge Iulia Motoc and Judge Haykel Ben Mahfoudh.
The hearing, which will take place in Courtroom I from 9 to 11 September, will be conducted in absentia, as Mr. Kony remains at large. During this critical stage, the Prosecution, the Defence, and the Legal Representatives of Victims will present their oral arguments before the judges.
The purpose of the confirmation hearing is for the Pre-Trial Chamber to evaluate the evidence and determine whether there are substantial grounds to believe that Joseph Kony committed the crimes he is charged with. If the charges are confirmed, the case will be referred to a Trial Chamber for trial.
Background: An arrest warrant for Joseph Kony was first issued under seal on 8 July 2005.It was later amended and unsealed in October 2005. He faces multiple charges of crimes against humanity and war crimes allegedly committed in northern Uganda in 2003 and 2004. The charges include murder, enslavement, rape, torture, forced pregnancy, conscription of children, and persecution, among other grave offences.
Pre-Trial Chamber III scheduled this hearing on 12 December 2024, and on 3 June 2025, the ICC Appeals Chamber confirmed the decision to hold the proceedings in the absence of the suspect.
Following the Hearing: The hearing will be webstreamed with a 30-minute delay on theICC website in English, French, and Acholi. It will also be broadcast on the Court’s Facebook (English and French) and YouTube channel (English and Acholi).
