Security Council Press Statement on Transfer of Dominic Ongwen to International Criminal Court
The following Security Council press statement was issued today by Council President Cristián Barros Melet (Chile):
The members of the Security Council welcomed the arrival of Dominic Ongwen from the Central African Republic to the International Criminal Court in The Hague, Netherlands, on 20 January 2015.
The members of the Security Council paid tribute to all victims of serious crimes of international concern committed by the Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA).
They expressed their appreciation to all States and organizations that cooperated on this effort, notably the Governments of Uganda, Central African Republic, and the United States, and the African Union, the United Nations Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in the Central African Republic (MINUSCA), as well as to the International Criminal Court. They emphasized that their efforts were essential in order to bring Mr. Ongwen to justice.
The members of the Security Council viewed this development as a positive step for international criminal justice and for the fight against impunity for the perpetrators of the most serious crimes of concern to the international community, as well as towards efforts to address the threat posed by the LRA.
The members of the Security Council recalled that the International Criminal Court’s arrest warrants for other LRA leaders, including Joseph Kony, on charges of war crimes and crimes against humanity, including murder, rape, enslavement, cruel treatment, intentionally directing attacks against a civilian population and forced enlistment of children, have yet to be executed, and called upon all States to cooperate with relevant national governments and the International Criminal Court, in accordance with their respective obligations, in order to execute those warrants, and to bring justice to those responsible.
The members of the Security Council thanked the African Union Regional Task Force for its ongoing efforts to counter the threat of the LRA in the region.
The members of the Security Council demanded an immediate end to all attacks by the LRA and urged the LRA to release all those abducted, and to disarm and demobilize. The Council welcomed the progress made with regard to ending LRA war crimes and crimes against humanity in Central Africa and reiterated its resolve to maintain the current momentum until a permanent end to the threat posed by the LRA has been achieved.