Convicted Ugandan war criminal Dominic Ongwen was transferred to a prison facility in Norway on Monday to serve his 25-year prison sentence.

Mr Ongwen is the fifth person transferred by the International Criminal Court (ICC) to a state that has indicated its willingness to accept sentenced persons.

On November 9 the presidency of the ICC designated Norway as the state of enforcement for the sentence of imprisonment of Mr Ongwen, pursuant to article 103 of the Rome Statute.

The presidency noted that the enforcement of the sentence of imprisonment shall be subject to the supervision of the court and shall be consistent with widely accepted international standards governing the treatment of prisoners.

The transfer of Mr Ongwen to Norway occurred with the close cooperation of the Norwegian authorities and the support of the Dutch authorities.

The ICC relies on the support from states for the enforcement of its sentences and is highly appreciative of the voluntary cooperation of Norway in this case.

On February 4, 2021 Trial Chamber IX found Ongwen, a commander of the rebel Lord’s Resistance Army, guilty for a total of 61 crimes comprising crimes against humanity and war crimes, committed in Northern Uganda between 2002 and 2005.

Trial Chamber IX sentenced Dominic Ongwen to 25 years of imprisonment in May of the same year.

The Appeals Chamber confirmed the decisions of Trial Chamber IX on Dominic Ongwen’s guilt and sentence in December last year.

The conviction and the sentence are now final.

Furthermore, a phase dedicated to the reparations to victims is ongoing.