By Stephanie van den Berg
THE HAGUE (Reuters) – Child soldiers and other victims of the convicted Congolese leader of the militia, Bosco Ntaganda, should receive a total of $ 30 million in compensation, the judges of the International Criminal Court on Monday ruled in their highest recovery judge ever.
The judges said Ntaganda did not have the means to pay the compensation himself. Instead, they asked the tribunal’s own Trust Fund to help set up and fund professional and other programs to support the victims of its crimes.
Ntaganda was sentenced in 2019 to 30 years in prison for murder, rape and other atrocities committed when he was military chief of the Union of Congolese Patriots (UPC) militia in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo in 2002-2003.
Hundreds of civilians were killed and thousands had to flee during the fighting.
“The chamber hereby unanimously issues an order for compensation against Mr Ntaganda (and) estimates Mr Ntaganda’s liability for this compensation at $ 30 million,” Judge Chang-ho Chung said.
As Ntaganda was unable to pay, the Chamber encourages the Victims ‘Trust Fund to supplement the compensation grants as far as possible and to make additional fundraising efforts if necessary to supplement the total grant,’ he added.
In 2020, the fund, which relies on voluntary contributions, had reserves of around 18 million euros, much of which has already been pledged in other cases.
Victims eligible for the compensation program include victims of attacks led by Ntaganda, child soldiers under his command, rape victims and children born out of rape.
The judges awarded collective compensation, which means there will be no individual payouts. Any money would rather go to charities or funds set up to help victims.
Ntaganda is appealing against his conviction.
(Posted by Stephanie van den Berg; Edited by Andrew Heavens)