The International Criminal Court on Thursday confirmed charges of war crimes and crimes against humanity against Uganda’s fugitive warlord Joseph Kony in absentia.

Kony, leader of the rebel Lord’s Resistance Army, is being charged with 39 counts of war crimes and crimes against humanity, including murder, rape, using child soldiers, sexual slavery and forced pregnancy, between 2002 and 2005, a court decision published Thursday shows.

An arrest warrant against Kony was issued in 2005, making him the ICC’s longest-standing fugitive.

Judges dismissed a request from court-appointed lawyers acting for Kony to stay a decision in the case and instead ruled Kony could be formally charged with all 39 counts put forward by the prosecution.

“The chamber finds that the prosecution’s allegation tha

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