Thomas Lubanga Dyilo

Leader of the Union des Patriotes Congolais (Union of Congolese Patriots, UPC)

• Allegations & Charges

  Factual Allegations

  Thomas Lubanga Dyilo (Lubanga) was the President of the Union des Patriotes Congolais (Union of Congolese Patriots, UPC), as well as Commander-in-Chief and political leader of its armed wing, the Force patriotique pour la libération du Congo (Patriotic Force for the Liberation of Congo - FPLC).

  The ICC Office of the Prosecutor (OTP) alleged that the UPC/FPLC controlled Ituri beginning in September 2002, and were involved in an armed conflict against Lendu militias including the Armée Populaire Congolaise (APC) and the Force de Résistance Patriotique en Ituri (FRPI), between September 2002 and August 2003.

  As leader of the UPC/FPLC, Lubanga had an overall coordinating role in planning its activities and operations, played a critical role in providing logistical support to the FPLC troops. Lubanga was also involved in making decisions involving recruitment policy and along with co-perpetrators, participated in establishing a common plan to build an army for the purpose of gaining and maintaining political and military control over Ituri. In implementing this plan, the UPC/FPLC engaged in widespread recruitment of youth including children under the age of 15 to participate in active hostilities as well as to do other tasks to support the UPC/FPLC. Once recruited voluntarily or through force, children under the age of 15 were sent to military training camps, and were deployed as soldiers in Bunia, Tchomia, Kasenyi, and Bogoro and took part in fighting in areas including Kobu, Songolo, and Mongbwalu.

  The UPC/FPLC used children as military guards and to compose a special “Kadogo Unit” whose ranks were primarily children. The OTP presented evidence that Lubanga personally made speeches encouraging children under the age of 15 to join the UPC/FPLC and personally used bodyguards who were under the age of 15.

  Please visit the Court’s website for more information on The Prosecutor v. Lubanga.

  Charges

  The Accused is charged, as an individual, jointly with another or through another person under Article 25(3)(a) of the Rome Statute, with Enlisting Child Soldiers, a crime against humanity under Article 8(2)(e)(vii).

• Key Events

  • Pre-Trial Chamber I issued a sealed arrest warrant for Lubanga on February 10, 2006, which was unsealed on March 18, 2006. He was transferred to the Hague on March 16, 2006. Charges were confirmed against him on January 29, 2007. He was convicted on March 14, 2012. He was sentenced, on July 10, 2012, to 14 years of imprisonment from which his time already spent in ICC custody will be deducted.

  • Arrest warrant

    Arrest Warrant Issued : February 10, 2006

  • Press release

    Initial Appearance : March 20, 2006

  • Decision on the confirmation of charges

    Confirmation of Charges : January 29, 2007

  • Press release

    Start of Trial : January 26, 2009

  • Decision on the sentence
    Press release

    Trial Judgement : March 14, 2012

  • Decision of the sentence
    Press release

    Sentencing : July 10, 2012

  • Decision on reparations
    Press release

    Decision on Reparations : August 7, 2012

  • Decision upholding verdict
    Press release

    Appeal Rejected : December 1, 2014

  • Amended decision on reparations
    Press Release

    Amended Decision on Reparations : March 3, 2015