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FORMER Congolese rebel leader Bosco Ntaganda became the first person to be convicted of sexual slavery at the International Criminal Court (ICC) today after he received a 30-year sentence for war crimes and crimes against humanity.
Nicknamed “Terminator,” he was convicted on 18 counts, including murder, rape, sexual slavery and use of child soldiers.
Mr Ntaganda surrendered at the US embassy in Rwanda in 2013, in what was believed to be an act of self-preservation.
At the time he was at risk of being killed after losing a power struggle in the opposition M23 group.
Judge Robert Fremr told Mr Ntaganda that there were no mitigating circumstances, but ruled against a life sentence despite the seriousness of the charges.
He is the first person to be convicted of sexual slavery and just the fourth person the ICC has convicted since it was established in 2002.
The Rwandan was involved in many armed battles in both Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of Congo. He has already lodged an appeal against his sentence.
