Joseph Kony’s wife and children have returned to Uganda from the Central African Republic. Kony is wanted for war crimes and remains elusive. A hearing for his charges is set for September 9, with a U.S. bounty of $5 million for information leading to his arrest. Kony leads the LRA, notorious for child abductions and violence in several African nations.
Kampala, Uganda (AP) – A wife and three children of fugitive Ugandan warlord Joseph Kony have been brought back to Uganda from the Central African Republic, according to Ugandan officials. Kony, who is escaping authorities, is sought by the International Criminal Court for numerous war crimes and crimes against humanity committed in northern Uganda between July 2002 and December 2005. A hearing at The Hague for confirmation of charges is scheduled for September 9, with the U.S. offering a $5 million bounty for information leading to his capture.
Maj. Gen. Felix Kulayigye, a military spokesperson, stated that Kony’s family’s return is part of ongoing efforts related to the warlord’s complex case. Kony leads the Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA), a notorious group known for its severe brutality, including the abduction and forced conscription of children as fighters and sex slaves. Despite years of decline for the LRA, Kony’s whereabouts are currently believed to be hidden in the Central African Republic.
The LRA originated in the 1980s and gained a grim reputation for its violence across several countries, including Uganda, the Congo, and South Sudan. The group became a focal point for advocacy in 2012, notably due to the online campaign by Invisible Children that brought attention to Kony’s human rights abuses. Though many of its leaders have been eliminated or apprehended, Kony remains elusive and a subject of ongoing military pursuit.
The repatriation of Kony’s family highlights the ongoing struggle against his crimes, drawing attention back to the severe atrocities committed by the LRA. Despite international efforts and military campaigns against Kony, he continues to evade capture. The scheduled hearing at The Hague may bring further developments in the case and calls for accountability for one of Africa’s most infamous warlords.
Original Source: www.bastillepost.com
