Lubanga jailed for 14 years

by admin
Jul 9, 2012

The former Congolese warlord Thomas Lubanga has been sentenced to 14 years imprisonment for recruiting and using child soldiers.

Lubanga pleaded not guilty but was convicted unanimously by judges in the International Criminal Court in March this year.

ICC chief prosecutor Luis Moreno-Ocampo called for a "severe sentence" of 30 years.

Speaking in June, he said the prosecution was seeking a sentence "in the name of each child recruited, in the name of the Ituri region".

According to Human Rights Watch, over 60,000 people were killed in fighting between Hema and Lenda ethnic groups in Ituri between 2002 and 2003.

Lubanga was the leader of the Hema militia, Union of Congolese Patriots.

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