The Ugandan government has repatriated one of the wives and three children of warlord Joseph Kony from the Central African Republic. Kony is wanted for multiple war crimes and remains at large, with a hearing in the Hague scheduled for September 9. The U.S. has offered a $5 million reward for information on his capture.
KAMPALA, Uganda — Authorities in Uganda announced the return of one of Ugandan warlord Joseph Kony’s wives and three of his children from the Central African Republic. Kony, who remains at large, is wanted by the International Criminal Court for 36 charges related to war crimes and crimes against humanity that occurred from July 2002 to December 2005 in northern Uganda.
A scheduled hearing in the Hague to confirm the charges against Kony will occur on September 9. The United States government has placed a $5 million bounty for information leading to his capture. Kony’s wife and children were airlifted back to Uganda, marking the latest repatriation of his family members, according to military spokesman Maj. Gen. Felix Kulayigye.
Kony leads the Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA), a rebel group defined by its conflicts with the Ugandan government and infamous for abducting children to serve as fighters or sex slaves. His current whereabouts are believed to be in the Central African Republic, as he has evaded capture for many years. The LRA has garnered international attention, especially after the release of a viral 2012 video by the advocacy group Invisible Children, which highlighted its atrocities.
In summary, the return of Joseph Kony’s family members to Uganda underscores the ongoing complexities surrounding his case. With Kony still at large and an international hunt for his capture ongoing, legal proceedings are set to proceed in the Hague. The iconic reputation of the LRA, driven by its history of violence and abduction, continues to evoke global concern and advocacy efforts.
Original Source: www.newsday.com
