Thomas Lubanga Dyilo

In this Congolese name, the surname is Lubanga and the post-surname is Dyilo.

Thomas Lubanga Dyilo
Born (1960-12-29) 29 December 1960 (age 63)
Djiba, Orientale Province, Congo-Léopoldville
NationalityDemocratic Republic of the Congo Congolese
Known forWar crimes; first person convicted by the International Criminal Court

Thomas Lubanga Dyilo (born 29 December 1960) is a convicted war criminal from the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and the first person convicted by the International Criminal Court (ICC).[1][2] He founded and led the Union of Congolese Patriots (UPC) and was a key player in the Ituri conflict (1999–2007). Rebels under his command have been accused of massive human rights violations, including ethnic massacres, murder, torture, rape, mutilation, and forcibly conscripting child soldiers.[3][4][5]

On 17 March 2006, Lubanga became the first person arrested under a warrant issued by the ICC.[6] His trial, for the war crime of "conscripting and enlisting minors under the age of fifteen years and using them to participate actively in hostilities,"[7] began on 26 January 2009,[8] and he was found guilty on 14 March 2012,[1] and faced a sentence of up to 30 years. On 10 July 2012, Trial Chamber I of the International Criminal Court (ICC) sentenced Lubanga to a total period of 14 years of imprisonment,[9] also ordering that the time from Lubanga's surrender to the ICC in 2006 until the sentencing day should be deducted from the 14-year term, which meant he would spend 6 fewer years in prison.[10] He was released from prison in 2020.

  1. ^ a b BBC Staff. "ICC Finds Congo Warlord Thomas Lubanga Guilty". BBC News. Retrieved 14 March 2012.
  2. ^ Gaskins, Richard, ed. (2022), "The Trial of Thomas Lubanga", The Congo Trials in the International Criminal Court (2 ed.), Cambridge University Press, pp. 211–290, doi:10.1017/9781009208772.008, ISBN 978-1-009-20877-2
  3. ^ Cite error: The named reference warrant was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  4. ^ Cite error: The named reference HRW was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  5. ^ Cite error: The named reference MONUC was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  6. ^ BBC News (17 March 2006). DR Congo rebel faces Hague trial. Retrieved 7 January 2009.
  7. ^ Cite error: The named reference arrest was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  8. ^ Mike Corder (26 January 2009). International court begins case of Congo warlord. The Associated Press. Retrieved 26 January 2009.
  9. ^ "Lubanga Case". International Criminal Court. ICC. Retrieved 24 January 2019.
  10. ^ All Africa (10 July 2012)"[1]" Retrieved 10 July 2012.