Ongwen Case: ICC Appeals Chamber to issue its judgment on reparations on 7 April 2025

On 25 March 2025, the Appeals Chamber of the International Criminal Court (”ICC” or “Court”) issued an order scheduling the hearing to deliver its judgment on the appeal of Mr Dominic Ongwen against the decision of Trial Chamber IX entitled “Reparations Order” in open Court on Monday, 7 April 2025 at 14:30 (Hague Local Time).

On 28 February 2024, the ICC Trial Chamber IX had set the financial liability of Mr Ongwen to € 52,429,000 EUR and ordered collective community-based reparations focused on rehabilitation and symbolic/satisfaction measures, consisting of collective rehabilitation programmes, as well as a symbolic award of €750 EUR for all eligible victims, and other community symbolic measures.

The Appeals Chamber deciding on this appeal is composed of Judge Solomy Balungi Bossa, Presiding Judge, Judge Tomoko Akane, Judge Luz del Carmen Ibáñez Carranza, Judge Gocha Lordkipanidze and Judge Erdenebalsuren Damdin.

Background: On 4 February 2021, Trial Chamber IX found Dominic Ongwen guilty for a total of 61 crimes comprising crimes against humanity and war crimes, committed in Northern Uganda between 1 July 2002 and 31 December 2005. On 6 May 2021, Trial Chamber IX sentenced Dominic Ongwen to 25 years of imprisonment. On 15 December 2022, the Appeals Chamber confirmed the decisions of Trial Chamber IX on Dominic Ongwen’s guilt and sentence. The conviction and the sentence are now final. On 18 December 2023, Mr Ongwen was transferred to Norway to serve his sentence of imprisonment. On 6 May 2021, Trial Chamber IX commenced the reparations proceedings by issuing an order for submissions on reparations.