Audio By Carbonatix
Congolese warlord Thomas Lubanga has been sentenced to 14 years in jail for recruiting and using child soldiers in his rebel army in 2002 and 2003.
He was convicted by the International Criminal Court (ICC) in March - the first conviction since the court was set up 10 years ago.
Lubanga had protested his innocence and said he had not supported the use of child soldiers.
But in a unanimous decision, the judges said Lubanga was responsible.
Campaign group Human Rights Watch says more than 60,000 people were killed in the conflict between Hema and Lendu ethnic groups in Ituri, in north-eastern DR Congo.
In June, ICC chief prosecutor Luis Moreno-Ocampo said he was asking for a "severe sentence" of 30 years.
He said the prosecution was requesting a sentence "in the name of each child recruited, in the name of the Ituri region".
The conviction of Lubanga is linked to current unrest in DR Congo.
Rebel forces are advancing towards the country's main eastern city of Goma. They are headed by Gen Bosco Ntaganda, who is also wanted for war crimes by the ICC.
DISCLAIMER: The Views, Comments, Opinions, Contributions and Statements made by Readers and Contributors on this platform do not necessarily represent the views or policy of Multimedia Group Limited.
Tags:
DISCLAIMER: The Views, Comments, Opinions, Contributions and Statements made by Readers and Contributors on this platform do not necessarily represent the views or policy of Multimedia Group Limited.
Latest Stories
-
Chaos mar NDC branch elections in Assin Central Constituency
12 minutes -
Wontumi knew he would be convicted – Appiah-Kubi
21 minutes -
GIMPA graduates tasks to master modern digital tools to be competitive
26 minutes -
Oti High Court adjourns NPP Krachi East Organiser election dispute to October
27 minutes -
Court issues bench warrant for man accused of threatening EOCO staff
29 minutes -
Vice President Opoku-Agyemang engages Ghanaians in Maryland, United States
33 minutes -
UG graduates urged to uphold integrity, excellence
35 minutes -
Gabonese President to begin three-day official visit to Ghana on July 28
37 minutes -
Accra-Tema residents advocate stricter enforcement of sanitation laws
38 minutes -
Financing key to unlocking Africa’s energy potential – John Jinapor
40 minutes -
Opoku-Agyemang delivers keynote address at Sister Cities International 70th anniversary
44 minutes -
Government urged to establish community autism units
50 minutes -
Mahama leads Ghanaians to mark 14th Anniversary of Prof Mills’ passing
51 minutes -
Police urge peaceful Homowo celebration, warn against violence
1 hour -
NDC insists government appointees must resign before contesting party executive elections
1 hour