This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-30283805

The article has changed 4 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 0 Version 1
ICC rejects Congolese warlord Thomas Lubanga's appeal ICC rejects Congolese warlord Thomas Lubanga's appeal
(35 minutes later)
The International Criminal Court (ICC) in The Hague has rejected an appeal by the Congolese militia leader, Thomas Lubanga, against his conviction for using child soldiers.The International Criminal Court (ICC) in The Hague has rejected an appeal by the Congolese militia leader, Thomas Lubanga, against his conviction for using child soldiers.
Prosecutors said boys as young as 11 were abducted to fight during the conflict in the Democratic Republic of Congo that started in 1999. Prosecutors said boys as young as 11 had been abducted to fight in the conflict in the Democratic Republic of Congo that started in 1999.
Girls were used as sex slaves, the trial heard.Girls were used as sex slaves, the trial heard.
In 2012, Lubanga became the first person to be convicted by the ICC.In 2012, Lubanga became the first person to be convicted by the ICC.
He had been the leader of the Union of Congolese Patriots (UPC), an ethnic Hema militia which was active in the war that started in the Ituri region in north-eastern DR Congo.He had been the leader of the Union of Congolese Patriots (UPC), an ethnic Hema militia which was active in the war that started in the Ituri region in north-eastern DR Congo.
The ICC convicted him of recruiting and sending children under 15 years old to the battlefield and sentenced him to 14 years in prison. The ICC convicted him of recruiting children under the age of 15 and sending them to the battlefield. He was sentenced to 14 years in prison.
The court has yet to decide on his appeal against the length of his sentence. On Monday, the court also rejected Lubanga's appeal against the length of his sentence.
Thomas Lubanga
• Leader of the Union of Congolese Patriots (UPC), an ethnic Hema militia
• Head of the UPC's military wing, the Patriotic Forces for the Liberation of Congo (FPLC)
• Accused of recruiting children under the age of 15 as soldiers
• Arrested in Kinshasa in March 2005
• Held by the ICC at The Hague since 2006
• Born in 1960, has a degree in psychology
Lubanga profile
The military wing of the UPC, the Patriotic Forces for the Liberation of Congo (FPLC), was one of six militias which fought for control of gold-rich Ituri until 2003.
The conflict began as a local struggle for control of land and resources, and escalated as arms proliferated and members of the Ugandan army became involved.
The dispute became a battle between the Hema and Lendu communities, in which an estimated 50,000 people died and hundreds of thousands were made homeless.