The International Criminal Court (ICC) has confirmed all 39 charges of war crimes and crimes against humanity allegedly committed by fugitive Uganda warlord Joseph Kony.

These include murder, enslavement, rape, and torture, which Kony is accused of having carried out between July 2002 and December 2005 in northern Uganda.

The leader of the Lord's Resistance Army (LRA) spearheaded a campaign of terror during this period.

Under ICC procedure, a trial would normally follow the confirmation of charges.

However, the court does not allow trials in absentia, and Kony has not been seen in public since 2006.

Judges have stated that there are reasonable grounds to believe Kony was responsible for 29 charges as an 'indirect co-perpetrator,' related to LRA attacks on a school and camps for internally displaced people.

Additionally, he is accused of being directly responsible for 10 cases involving two victims who were forced to be his 'wives.' These charges include enslavement, forced marriage, rape, forced pregnancy, and sexual slavery.

Kony, a former Catholic altar boy, headed the feared LRA insurgency against the Ugandan government.

The conflict resulted in over 100,000 deaths and the abduction of approximately 60,000 children, according to the United Nations.

His goal was reportedly to establish a nation based on the Bible's 10 commandments.

Those who escaped told harrowing tales of the group's brutality, including being forced to hack or bite others to death, eat human remains, and drink blood.

The last-known sighting of Kony was in 2006 when he spoke with a Western journalist and denied terrorism allegations, stating that stories of LRA brutality were 'propaganda.' It is currently unknown whether he is even still alive.

In September, the ICC held a three-day confirmation of charges hearing in The Hague without Kony's presence.

His defense lawyer argued that the case should be frozen as Kony had no means to challenge the evidence presented against him.

However, ICC judges rejected this request.

A victims' lawyer provided emotional testimony detailing some of the atrocities endured at the hands of the LRA.

The court emphasized that neither party can appeal the decision until Kony has been informed.

The ICC prosecutor's office stated that confirming charges is a crucial step in holding Kony accountable for the crimes attributed to him and expressed an unwavering commitment to pursuing justice for the victims of the LRA conflict in northern Uganda.

Several victims expressed their thoughts on the confirmation of charges.

One victim, Angel Stella Lalam, who heads the War Victims and Networking Organization based in Gulu city, noted that while the confirmation was expected, it did not erase the suffering endured.

Another victim, Alex Okello, 56, a local leader from Pabbo, north of Gulu, stated his desire to see Kony face actual justice.

The ICC's confirmation of charges serves as an important legal step in holding Joseph Kony accountable for his alleged crimes.

However, questions remain regarding his current whereabouts and whether he will ever stand trial.