June 2004 -

In May 2004 President Kabila sent a blank referral to the ICC Prosecutor to investigate crimes committed in the DRC since July 2002, after the ICC prosecutor indicated he would be requesting permission for investigation.

In June 2004, the Office of the Prosecutor launched the first ICC investigation into atrocities occurring in the DRC, with a focus on the Eastern DRC . [ICC]

January 2008: The first team of investigators visited the DRC in August 2004, with the first hearings on the DRC being held by the ICC in March 2005.

On 10 February 2006, the Pre-Trial Chamber issued warrants of arrest for Mr Thomas Lubanga Dyilo leader of the Union des Patriotes Congolais (UPC), in relation to atrocities committed by the party’s military wing, Forces patriotiques pour la libération du Congo (FPLC). The charges revolve around the commission of war crimes, namely, enlisting and conscripting children under the age of fifteen and using them to participate actively in hostilities. [ICC].

Due to the fragile situation in the East in the run up to the first democratic elections, the investigations were put on hold, which has led to the rescheduling of the first hearing to November 9, 2006. This case is significant given that it is the first prosecution taking place, and key decisions regarding the procedures of the court will be taken.

No dates have yet been set for the prosections of Thomas Lubanga Dyilo, founder of the Union Congolese Patriots (UCP) and Germain Katanga, leader of the Forces for the Patriotic Resistance in Ituri (FPRI), who was arrested on the 17th October 2007. 

The Court is currently gathering information on crimes committed by all sides, with the aim of selecting a third investigation, but this process can take between a year and 18 months. Additional information and updates are available on the official ICC website.