The ICC’s In Absentia Show Trial of Joseph Kony Exposes Justice’s Limits

On the world stage in The Hague, the International Criminal Court (ICC) is preparing to present evidence against Joseph Kony, the elusive Ugandan rebel leader accused of heinous war crimes and crimes against humanity. But here lies a critical question: how effective is war crimes justice when the accused remains beyond reach? Nearly twenty years after issuing the arrest warrant, the ICC moves forward with what critics describe as a hollow in absentia hearing—an event that underscores fundamental flaws within international judicial mechanisms. Is Justice Possible Without Sovereignty and Enforcement? Kony, founder of the Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA), orchestrated terror...