[JURIST] The International Criminal Court (ICC) [official website] issued a second warrant [text, PDF] on Friday for the arrest of Congolese General Bosco Ntaganda on charges of war crimes including murder, rape and sexual slavery committed in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) between September 2002 and September 2003. Ntaganda is already wanted [text, PDF] for war crimes in relation to the recruitment and use of child soldiers in the DRC from July 2002 until December 2003. The latest warrant, which revolves around fighting in the mining town of Mongbwalu, states:

Considering the material presented, the Chamber further finds that there are reasonable grounds that Mr. Ntaganda satisfies the subjective elements of the alleged crimes pursuant to article 30 of the Statute. He knew that the execution of the common plan would result in the commission of the alleged crimes. Furthermore, he was aware that he had joint control over the organisation. Mr. Ntaganda knew that his conduct was part of the widespread and systematic attack. He was also aware of the circumstances establishing the existence of an armed conflict.

Despite the charges, Congolese President Joseph Kabila has ignored calls to arrest Ntaganda in order to bring him to the ICC to answer for the charges against him.

The new warrant comes just three days after the ICC sentenced Congolese militia leader Thomas Lubanga Dyilo [JURIST report, case materials] to 14 years. Human Rights Watch (HRW) [advocacy website] has called for Ntaganda’s arrest on 3 separate occasions: most recently a direct appeal to Kabila in 2012, then again in 2011 during an international conference, and the first request coming in 2010 [JURIST reports]. In addition to Ntaganda, the ICC is also bringing charges against Callixte Mbarushimana, Mathieu Ngudjolo Chui and Germain Katanga [case materials].