Mathieu Ngudjolo Chui (born 8 October 1970)[2] is a colonel in the Congolese army and a former senior commander of the National Integrationist Front (FNI) and the Patriotic Resistance Force in Ituri (FRPI).
[2] Ngudjolo began his career as a corporal in the Congolese army (then called the Forces Armées Zaïroises) under the dictator Mobutu Sese Seko.
[7] On 1 November 2005, a United Nations Security Council committee imposed a travel ban and asset freeze on him for violating an arms embargo.
[2] He was charged with six counts of war crimes (willful killing; inhuman treatment or cruel treatment; using children under the age of fifteen years to participate actively in hostilities; sexual slavery; intentionally directing attacks against civilians; and pillaging) and three counts of crimes against humanity (murder, inhumane acts and sexual slavery).
[15] According to Judge Bruno Cotte, prosecutors had "not proved beyond reasonable doubt [that] Ngudjolo was responsible" for war crimes, and evidence presented had been "too contradictory and too hazy.
"[4] Cotte ordered Ngudjolo to be released, denying the prosecution's request that he remain in ICC custody, though it was not immediately clear where he would go, as he is still subject to a United Nations travel ban.
Anonymous legal experts interviewed by Thomson Reuters judged it unlikely that the ICC's verdict would be overruled, as appeals do not permit new evidence to be submitted.
"[16] The ICC's verdict was met with dismay from various observatory groups; Human Rights Watch said that it "leaves the victims of Bogoro and other massacres by his forces without justice for their suffering.