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Uganda rebel commander goes on trial at Int'l Criminal Court

Associated Press
Published | Updated

Dominic Ongwen, a senior commander in the Lord's Resistance Army, whose fugitive leader Kony is one of the world's most-wanted war crimes suspects, is flanked by two security guards as he sits in the court room of the International Court in The Hague, Netherlands, Tuesday, Dec. 6, 2016. (AP Photo/Peter Dejong, Pool) (The Associated Press)

Dominic Ongwen, a senior commander in the Lord's Resistance Army, whose fugitive leader Kony is one of the world's most-wanted war crimes suspects, sits in the court room of the International Court in The Hague, Netherlands, Tuesday, Dec. 6, 2016. (AP Photo/Peter Dejong, Pool) (The Associated Press)

Dominic Ongwen, a senior commander in the Lord's Resistance Army, whose fugitive leader Kony is one of the world's most-wanted war crimes suspects, sits in the court room of the International Court in The Hague, Netherlands, Tuesday, Dec. 6, 2016. (AP Photo/Peter Dejong, Pool) (The Associated Press)

One of the most senior commanders in the feared militia of fugitive Ugandan warlord Joseph Kony is going on trial at the International Criminal Court.

Dominic Ongwen, an alleged commander in the Lord's Resistance Army, faces 70 charges Tuesday, including murder, pillage, rape and using child soldiers during the group's long-running insurgency.

Ongwen was himself abducted as a 14-year-old and forced to fight with Kony's forces before rising through the ranks to allegedly become commander of the LRA's Sinia brigade.

Ongwen, first indicted in 2005 and sent to the court early last year after surrendering to U.S. forces in Central African Republic, is the only member of Kony's army in the court's custody. Kony remains free despite years of efforts in Northern Uganda and neighboring countries to capture him.