Victims of the Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA) insurgency have urged the International Criminal Court (ICC) to “petition God” to intervene in the arrest of fugitive Ugandan rebel leader Joseph Kony, saying only divine power may weaken what they describe as his “magical powers.”
Kony, who faces 39 counts of war crimes and crimes against humanity for attacks between July 2002 and December 2005 in northern Uganda, remains at large nearly 20 years after the ICC issued an arrest warrant for him.
During a stakeholders’ dialogue organised by the Hague-based court in Lira City on November 25, victims expressed deep frustration with the absence of progress.
“For me I think since the ICC does not have its own armed force, let the court now present a petition to God to intervene so that Kony is finally arrested,” said Ms Semmy Adong, who was abducted at age nine when LRA fighters raided the Barlonyo IDP camp on February 21, 2004. She returned from captivity in 2024 with two children.
Civil society representative Ms Jane Ekayo said northern Uganda still lives with the scars of the conflict and the unresolved trauma of mass abductions and killings. She said victims’ frustration has “boiled over” as they continue to wait for justice.
She also agreed that spiritual intervention may be necessary for justice to prevail.
“There are so many great prophets in this country (Uganda) that we can recommend. Today, when you asked me how many I can give you. There are 10 of them. Let’s engage these people in prayer. Because it’s likely that there are evil forces that are controlling this man (Kony). And spiritual things are dealt with spiritually,” she said.
Senior Trial Lawyer Ms Leonie Von Braun of the Office of the Prosecutor acknowledged the victims’ anger, but said the ICC could not disclose operational details about efforts to locate Kony.
“Anything I would say in detail could compromise the work we are doing, which is highly sensitive with partners, some of which are risking the lives of people who may be engaging in trying to arrest him,” she said.
“It is not because we don’t want to share information. It is because there are reasons we can’t,” she added.
Von Braun reassured the victims that Kony is alive.
“At this moment in time, I can say all our information says yes. Do we know who he is? Yes. He is a man, a normal human being walking the planet, but he has a violent nature and he is prone to having influenced people in a very bad way.”
She said the warlord’s influence has weakened since leaving Uganda but added: “Where he is, he is still going about his old ways and he is not treating people well and that needs to stop wherever he is.”
The ICC Prosecutor’s Office recently welcomed Pre-Trial Chamber III’s decision confirming all 39 charges against Kony in absentia, covering attacks on IDP camps, the raid on Lwala Girls Secondary School, and widespread abductions and mistreatment of children and women.
The case will now proceed to a trial chamber, enabling immediate trial once Kony is arrested.
About the Author
