A former Congolese rebel leader has been found guilty of war crimes and crimes against humanity.
Fighters loyal to Bosco Ntaganda disembowelled babies and smashed their heads in, said judges at the International Criminal Court (ICC).
In all, Ntaganda, nicknamed “Terminator”, was convicted on 18 counts, including murder, rape, sexual slavery and using child soldiers.
He becomes the first person convicted of sexual slavery by the ICC.
His lawyers had argued that Ntaganda was a victim, having also been recruited as a child soldier.
He is the fourth person convicted by the ICC since its creation in 2002.
Ntaganda surrendered at the US embassy in in the Democratic Republic of Congo in 2013.
Analysts said it was an act of self-preservation, motivated by the danger he was in after losing a power-struggle within his M23 rebel group.
A three-judge bench found Ntaganda guilty on all 18 counts of war crimes and crimes against humanity committed in the mineral-rich eastern region of Ituri between 2002 and 2003.
Ntaganda, 45, was a “key leader” who gave orders to “target and kill civilians” judge Robert Fremr said in the ruling.
Prosecutors had said Ntaganda was key in planning and running operations for the Union of Congolese Patriots (UCP) rebels and its military wing, the Patriotic Forces for the Liberation of Congo (FPLC).
The judges ruled that he had personally killed a Catholic priest, while the fighters he commanded ran rampage in the region.
They also found Ntaganda guilty of crimes involving recruiting child soldiers, including young girls.
The crimes took place when Ntaganda served as the deputy chief of general staff of Thomas Lubanga – who was the leader of UPC rebel group. He was convicted by the ICC in 2012.
(Reported by BBC)
