The International Criminal Court (ICC) has commenced its first-ever in absentia hearing against Joseph Kony, the elusive leader of Uganda’s Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA).

Kony faces 39 charges, including war crimes and crimes against humanity, stemming from decades of violence across Uganda, the Central African Republic, South Sudan, and the Democratic Republic of Congo.

Despite a 2005 arrest warrant and extensive international efforts, Kony remains at large, believed to be hiding in remote border regions.

The ICC’s decision to proceed with the hearing without Kony present has sparked debate, with his court-appointed defense arguing that the absence undermines the fairness of the proceedings, the Associated Press has reported.

This case sets a significant precedent, potentially influencing future trials of other high-profile fugitives, such as Vladimir Putin and Benjamin Netanyahu.