By Chris Muhizi for MCN Saturday.
A more than $30 million compensation plan for thousands of Bosco Ntaganda’s victims, including former child soldiers, was confirmed by the International Criminal Court on Friday.
Ntaganda, nicknamed “the Terminator” for his early 2000s terror regime in the vast African nation, was sentenced to 30 years in prison in 2019 for war crimes and crimes against humanity.
Judges later granted $30.3 million in damages, but last year they ordered a review because they weren’t sure how many victims there were.
However, the Hague-based court said in a statement on Friday that “the chamber unanimously assesses Mr. Ntaganda’s liability for reparations at USD $31,300,000.”
Ntaganda is responsible for the payment, but the ICC determined that he had no the necessary means. As a result, the money will now come from the ICC’s Trust Fund for Victims.
The judges ordered the court staff to keep an eye on Mr. Ntaganda’s money and “continue exploring whether Mr. Ntaganda possessed any undiscovered assets.”
Judges added that based on the facts at their disposal, there were 3,000 direct or indirect victims of crimes against young soldiers and 7,500 direct and indirect victims of violent attacks.
However, payment will include around $11 million in socioeconomic support and $5 million for mental health care due to “psychological harm” brought on by the attacks. Financial figures were not provided for specific victims.
It was calculated that each former child soldier would cost about $4,000 to rehabilitate.
In 2021, the ICC upheld Ntaganda’s appeal of a 30-year sentence for war crimes.
The justices made this point clear in their order on Friday: “The chamber reiterates that Mr. Ntaganda’s conviction is definitive and his duty to repair the harm he caused to the victims of his crimes is under no question.
The victims of his crimes must receive the reparations they are entitled to, which they have been waiting for more than two decades, without further delay, they said. “The chamber will continue striving to advance these reparation proceedings in the most efficient and effective manner possible,” they said.
Ntaganda, 49, was found guilty on 18 charges of war crimes and crimes against humanity, including murder and sexual assault.