A former Congolese rebel commander who is on trial for war crimes at the International Criminal Court (ICC) at The Hague has said he is “ready to die” rather than endure the conditions he is being held in, the Reuters news agency reports.
Bosco Ntaganda who is accused of using child soldiers, keeping women as sex slaves, and murder in the Democratic Republic of Congo between 2002-2003 went on hunger strike last week, Reuters adds.
“I have no possibility to see my wife and children again under normal conditions. This is the reason I have lost all hope. This is why I am ready to die,” Ntaganda said in a statement read out by his defence lawyer.
Ntaganda pleaded not guilty to all 18 charges at the start of his trial last year.