Dominic Ongwen
Encyclopedia
Dominic Ongwen is the Brigade Commander of the Sinia Brigade of the Lord's Resistance Army
(LRA) rebel group founded in northern Uganda
. As the head of one of the four LRA brigades, Ongwen is a member of the "Control Altar" of the LRA that directs military strategy. Ongwen is the lowest ranking of the five LRA leaders for whom the International Criminal Court
(ICC) issued their first ever warrants in June 2005. He is charged with seven counts of crimes against humanity
and war crime
s.
Ongwen was reported killed in combat with a unit of the Uganda People's Defence Force
in 10 October 2005 and the identity of the body was confirmed by former LRA commanders. However, in July 2006, the ICC reported that genetic fingerprinting
of the body confirmed that it was not that of Ongwen. News reports at this time put Ongwen in southwest Equatoria
, Southern Sudan, attempting to rejoin LRA head Joseph Kony
in Garamba
, Ituri Province, northeastern Democratic Republic of the Congo
. Ongwen and a former wife featured in a film 'Picking up the Pieces', by IRIN and released in October 2007. Uganda People's Defence Force
spokesperson Maj. Felix Kulayije commented, "Unfortunately, the bastard is still alive."
Lord's Resistance Army
The Lord's Resistance Army insurgency is an ongoing guerrilla campaign waged since 1987 by the Lord's Resistance Army rebel group, operating mainly in northern Uganda, but also in South Sudan and eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo...
(LRA) rebel group founded in northern Uganda
Uganda
Uganda , officially the Republic of Uganda, is a landlocked country in East Africa. Uganda is also known as the "Pearl of Africa". It is bordered on the east by Kenya, on the north by South Sudan, on the west by the Democratic Republic of the Congo, on the southwest by Rwanda, and on the south by...
. As the head of one of the four LRA brigades, Ongwen is a member of the "Control Altar" of the LRA that directs military strategy. Ongwen is the lowest ranking of the five LRA leaders for whom the International Criminal Court
International Criminal Court
The International Criminal Court is a permanent tribunal to prosecute individuals for genocide, crimes against humanity, war crimes, and the crime of aggression .It came into being on 1 July 2002—the date its founding treaty, the Rome Statute of the...
(ICC) issued their first ever warrants in June 2005. He is charged with seven counts of crimes against humanity
Crime against humanity
Crimes against humanity, as defined by the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court Explanatory Memorandum, "are particularly odious offenses in that they constitute a serious attack on human dignity or grave humiliation or a degradation of one or more human beings...
and war crime
War crime
War crimes are serious violations of the laws applicable in armed conflict giving rise to individual criminal responsibility...
s.
Ongwen was reported killed in combat with a unit of the Uganda People's Defence Force
Uganda People's Defence Force
The Uganda Peoples Defence Force , previously the National Resistance Army, is the armed forces of Uganda. The International Institute for Strategic Studies estimates the UPDF has a total strength of 40–45,000, and consists of land forces and an Air Wing.The IISS Military Balance 2007 says there...
in 10 October 2005 and the identity of the body was confirmed by former LRA commanders. However, in July 2006, the ICC reported that genetic fingerprinting
Genetic fingerprinting
DNA profiling is a technique employed by forensic scientists to assist in the identification of individuals by their respective DNA profiles. DNA profiles are encrypted sets of numbers that reflect a person's DNA makeup, which can also be used as the person's identifier...
of the body confirmed that it was not that of Ongwen. News reports at this time put Ongwen in southwest Equatoria
Equatoria
Equatoria is a region in the south of present-day South Sudan along the upper reaches of the White Nile. Originally a province of Egypt, it also contained most of Northern part of present day Uganda including Albert Lake...
, Southern Sudan, attempting to rejoin LRA head Joseph Kony
Joseph Kony
Joseph Kony is an African terrorist who is the head of the Lord's Resistance Army , a guerrilla group that is engaged in a violent campaign to establish theocratic government based on the Ten Commandments in Uganda...
in Garamba
Garamba National Park
Garamba National Park, located in the Democratic Republic of the Congo in Africa, was established in 1938. One of Africa's oldest National parks, it was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1980. Garamba is the home to the world's last known wild population of Northern White Rhinoceros...
, Ituri Province, northeastern Democratic Republic of the Congo
Democratic Republic of the Congo
The Democratic Republic of the Congo is a state located in Central Africa. It is the second largest country in Africa by area and the eleventh largest in the world...
. Ongwen and a former wife featured in a film 'Picking up the Pieces', by IRIN and released in October 2007. Uganda People's Defence Force
Uganda People's Defence Force
The Uganda Peoples Defence Force , previously the National Resistance Army, is the armed forces of Uganda. The International Institute for Strategic Studies estimates the UPDF has a total strength of 40–45,000, and consists of land forces and an Air Wing.The IISS Military Balance 2007 says there...
spokesperson Maj. Felix Kulayije commented, "Unfortunately, the bastard is still alive."