By Stephanie van den Berg
The Hague (Reuters) – Child soldiers and other victims of the convicted Congolese militia leader Bosco Ntaganda are expected to receive a total compensation of $ 30 million, judges at the International Criminal Court judged on Monday, in their highest order of reparation.
The judges said that Ntaganda did not have the resources to pay the compensation himself. Instead, they asked the court’s own trust fund to help establish and finance professional and other programs to support victims of their crimes.
Ntaganda was sentenced to 30 years in prison in 2019 for murder, rape and other atrocities committed when he was military chief of the Congolese Patriots Union (UPC) militia in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo in 2002-2003.
Hundreds of civilians were killed and many thousands were forced to flee during the fighting.
“The chamber unanimously issues an indemnity order against Mr. Ntaganda (e) assesses Mr. Ntaganda’s liability for these damages at US $ 30 million,” said Judge Chang-ho Chung.
As Ntaganda couldn’t afford it, “the Chamber encourages the Victims Trust Fund to supplement reparation premiums as far as possible and to engage in additional fundraising efforts as needed to supplement the entire premium,” he added.
In 2020, the fund, which has voluntary contributions, had around 18 million euros in reserves and a large part of that was already committed in other cases.
Victims eligible for the reparations program include victims of attacks led by Ntaganda, child soldiers under his command, victims of rape and children born of rape.
The judges granted collective reparations, that is, there will be no individual payments. Instead, all the money will go to charities or funds created to help victims.
Ntaganda is appealing against his conviction.
(Reporting by Stephanie van den Berg; Editing by Andrew Heavens)