The confirmation hearing in the case The Prosecutor v. Joseph Kony is scheduled to open on 9 September 2025 at 9:30 (The Hague local time) before Pre-Trial Chamber III of the International Criminal Court (ICC), in the absence of the suspect. Pre-Trial Chamber III is composed of Judge Althea Violet Alexis-Windsor (Presiding Judge), Judge Iulia Motoc and Judge Haykel Ben Mahfoudh.
The hearing is scheduled to last from 9 to 11 September 2025 in Courtroom I. The Prosecution, the Defence and the Legal Representatives of Victims will make oral submissions before the judges to present their arguments on the merits.
The purpose of the confirmation of charges hearing is to determine whether there is sufficient evidence to establish substantial grounds to believe that the person committed each of the crimes charged. If one or more of the charges are confirmed, the case will be transferred to a Trial Chamber, which will conduct the subsequent phase of the proceedings: the trial.
Background: The Warrant of Arrest for Joseph Kony was issued under seal on 8 July 2005, amended on 27 September 2005 and unsealed on 13 October 2005. He is suspected of crimes against humanity (murder, attempted murder, enslavement, forced marriage, rape, torture, severe abuse and mistreatment, forced pregnancy, and persecution) and war crimes (murder, attempted murder, torture, cruel treatment of civilians, intentionally directing an attack against a civilian population, pillaging, destroying the enemy's property, rape, sexual slavery, forced pregnancy, conscription of children and the use children to participate actively in hostilities) allegedly committed in 2003 and 2004 in northern Uganda.
On 12 December 2024, ICC Pre-Trial Chamber III scheduled the confirmation of charges hearing to commence on 9 September 2025, in the absence of the suspect. On 3 June 2025, the Appeals Chamber confirmed the decision on the criteria for holding confirmation of charges proceedings in absentia.
Related documents:
• Order setting the schedule and directions for the confirmation of charges hearing
• Judgment on the appeal of Mr Joseph Kony against the decision of Pre-Trial Chamber III of 29 October 2024 entitled "Decision on the criteria for holding confirmation of charges proceedings in absentia"
• Amended Document Containing the Charges
• Decision on victim applications for participation in the proceedings
• Case page: English, French
Webstreaming of the hearing:
The hearing can be followed with a 30-minute delay in English, French and Acholi on the ICC website, in English and French on the ICC Facebook accounts, and in English and Acholi on the ICC YouTube Channel.
Attending the hearing:
• Members of the diplomatic corps and civil society and other members of the public can request attendance via email to: before 5 September. Attendees must present a valid passport or valid ID with a photo at the main entrance of the Court (at: Oude Waalsdorperweg 10, 2597 AK The Hague).
• Journalists wishing to cover the hearing can request accreditation via email to: before 5 September. All journalists must present a valid press card, and a valid passport or valid ID with a photo, at the main entrance of the Court (at: Oude Waalsdorperweg 10, 2597 AK The Hague).
The number of visitors in the public gallery is limited. The principle 'first come, first served' will be applied. Individuals who have not received a confirmation in advance of the hearing will not be granted access to the building. Those attending are advised to arrive 20 minutes in advance before the hearing starts.
AV materials:
Images of the hearing will be available for download on an FTP server in video (MPEG-4) and audio (MPEG-3) format, and for viewing on the official ICC YouTube Channel.
Photographs of the hearing will be available on the ICC Flickr account.
