Thomas Lubanga Dyilo

Who is Thomas Lubanga Dyilo?

Thomas Lubanga Dyilo is a convicted war criminal from the Democratic Republic of the Congo and the first person ever convicted by the International Criminal Court. He founded and led the Union of Congolese Patriots and was a key player in the Ituri conflict. Rebels under his command have been accused of massive human rights violations, including ethnic massacres, murder, torture, rape, mutilation, and forcibly conscripting child soldiers.

On 17 March 2006, Lubanga became the first person arrested under a warrant issued by the ICC. His trial, for the war crime of "conscripting and enlisting children under the age of fifteen years and using them to participate actively in hostilities", began on 26 January 2009, and he was found guilty on 14 March 2012. He faced a maximum sentence of 30 years. On 10 July 2012, Trial Chamber I of the International Criminal Court sentenced Lubanga to a total period of 14 years of imprisonment, 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 means he will spend 8 more years in jail.