On 7 February 2008, the International Criminal Court (ICC) announced the arrest by the Congolese authorities of Mathieu Ngudjolo Chui, the alleged former leader of the National Integrationist Front (FNI) and currently a Colonel in the National Army of the Government of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). He has been transferred today to the International Criminal Court in The Hague.

On 6 July 2007, the Pre-trial Chamber had issued a sealed warrant of arrest for Mathieu Ngudjolo Chui (unsealed on 7 February 2008) listing three counts of crimes against humanity (murder, inhumane acts and sexual slavery) and six counts of war crimes (willful killing, inhumane or cruel treatment, using children under the age of fifteen, sexual slavery, intentionally directing attacks against the civilian population and pillaging).

It is alleged that Mathieu Ngudjolo Chui, as the highest ranking FNI commander, played an essential role designing and implementing an indiscriminate attack against the village of Bogoro, in the territory of Ituri (DRC), on or around 24 February 2003. During or following this attack—carried out with the active participation of children under the age of 15—about 200 civilians were murdered, some were sexually assaulted and the village was pillaged.

The Pre-Trial Chamber also found that this attack was part of a common plan with the Force de résistance patriotique en Ituri (FRPI), of which the criminal acts described above were an accepted consequence. This attack took place in the context of an armed conflict and was part of a systematic or widespread attack against the civilian population, primarily of Hema ethnicity, between January and March 2003.

Mathieu Ngudjolo Chui is the third person to enter custody at the ICC, after Germain Katanga (October 2007) and Thomas Lubanga Dialo (March 2006); all three cases are in relation to the situation in the DRC. Germain Katanga, alleged commander of the FRPI, is currently charged as a co-perpetrator of the crimes committed during the attack on the village of Bogoro.

The date of Mathieu Ngudjolo Chui’s first appearance will be announced in due course. A press briefing will be held on Thursday, 7 February at 15.00 at the ICC.

Press release
View the live streaming of the press conference