The International Criminal Court (ICC) has appointed British barrister Peter Haynes as the defense lawyer for Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA) commander Joseph Kony.

This follows the ICC’s call for expressions of interest from lawyers to represent Kony, who has been a fugitive since the ICC first sought his arrest 19 years ago in 2005.

Kony faces 12 counts of crimes against humanity, including murder, sexual enslavement, and rape, as well as 21 counts of war crimes, such as cruel treatment of civilians, pillaging, and enlisting child soldiers.

These alleged offenses were committed in northern Uganda in 2003 and 2004. The ICC will hold a confirmation of charges hearing against Kony in his absence on October 15, 2024, as he remains at large.