Thomas Lubanga, a Congolese rebel leader accused of conscripting child soldiers, will face the International Criminal Court in March 2008, the ICC announced today. Lubanga, was arrested in the Congolese capital, Kinshasa, during a crackdown following the murder and mutilation of nine U.N. peacekeepers. He allegedly forced children to undergo training for the armed wing of the Union of Congolese Patriots in order to kill members of rival tribes. His will be the first trail before the ICC.
Lubanga, 46, conscripted children to fight against the Lendu ethnic group under his Union of Congolese Patriots (UPC) , now registered as a political party. The UPC engaged in ethnic conflict with the Lendu ethnic group struggling for control of tax revenues and mines in the region. The Democratic Republic of Congo has been embroiled in civil and regional conflicts since the massive influx of refugees fleeing the atrocities in Darfur in 1994.
International humanitarian law forbids the conscription of people under the age of 15 into military service. The ICC said in January it had enough evidence to try Lubanga for crimes against humanity. In September, the ICC was considering holding the trial in the Congo with the aim of “bringing justice closer to the victims."
The trial is scheduled for March 31, 2006 at The Hague, Netherlands. The court ruled that all evidence shall be submitted to the court by Dec. 14.
Lubanga's trial will be the first ever for the permanent international war crimes court. The ICC was established in 2002 and is backed by 104 nations.
