Read the statement by the Women’s Initiatives for Gender Justice on the trial judgement issued today by Trial Chamber II of the International Criminal Court (ICC), in which it acquitted Mathieu Ngudjolo Chui (Ngudjolo), alleged commander of the Ituri-based militia group Front de nationalistes et integrationnistes (FNI) for war crimes and crimes against humanity. This decision is the second trial judgement to be issued by the ICC following the earlier conviction of Thomas Lubanga Dyilo in March of this year, and is the first acquittal issued by the ICC.

“The judges today found that it was not proven beyond a reasonable doubt that Mr Ngudjolo was the commander of the Lendu combatants from Bedu-Ezekere during the attack on Bogoro on 24 February 2003, as charged by the ICC,” said Brigid Inder, Executive Director of the Women’s Initiatives for Gender Justice.

“While Mr Ngudjolo was therefore found not guilty, the judges stated that this did not signify that crimes had not been committed and that today’s finding did not call into question the suffering of the population,” said Inder.

Read the statement by the Women’s Initiatives for Gender Justice