Congo militia leader loses appeal on war crimes conviction

THE HAGUE , Netherlands, Dec. 2 (UPI) -- An appeal by convicted Congolese militia leader Thomas Lubanga was rejected by the International Criminal Court in The Hague, Netherlands.

Lubanga was convicted in 2012 of recruiting hundreds of child soldiers, boys as young as 11, and girls as sex slaves, during the civil war in Democratic Republic of Congo, which began in 1998 and lasted until 2003. He was the first person ever convicted by the court, and given a 14-year prison sentence.

He was the leader of the Union of Congolese Patriots, an ethnic Henna militia in the northeastern part of the country. Human rights groups claim as many as 60,000 people were killed in the conflict. Throughout his 200-day trial, which included testimony from over 60 witnesses, Lubanga maintained his innocence, and showed no remorse for his crimes.

The five-judge panel Monday rejected all seven sections of Lubanga's appeal, including one regarding the length of his sentence.