Judges at the International Criminal Court (ICC) on Monday convicted a former rebel leader, Bosco Ntaganda for war crimes and crimes against humanity in the Democratic Republic of Congo.

Ntaganda, nicknamed ‘Terminator’ was convicted of 18 counts, including murder, rape and using child soldiers. His lawyers had argued that Ntaganda was a victim, having also been recruited as a child soldier.

Ntaganda, who surrendered at the United States embassy in DR Congo in 2013 becomes the fourth person to be convicted by the ICC since its creation in 2002.

A three-judge bench of the ICC found Ntaganda guilty on all 18 counts of war crimes and crimes against humanity committed in the eastern region of Ituri between 2002 and 2003.

They said the former rebel leader bore direct responsibility in relation to parts of three charges of murder, attempted murder and intentionally directing attacks against civilians.

He was also found to be responsible as an indirect co-perpetrator for rape and sexual slavery. The judges further ruled that he participated in the killings as the fighters he commanded ravaged the region.

The crimes took place when Ntaganda served as the Deputy Chief of General Staff of Thomas Lubanga, the then leader of UPC rebel group who was convicted by the ICC in 2012.

The judges also found Ntaganda guilty of crimes involving recruiting child soldiers, including young girls.

Analysts however argue that Ntaganda’s brutality was an act of self-preservation which was motivated by the danger he was in after losing a power struggle within his M23 rebel group.

Born in 1973, Ntaganda grew up in Rwanda but fled to DR Congo as a teenager after attacks on fellow ethnic Tutsis. At 17, he began fighting, alternating between being a rebel and a soldier in both Rwanda and DR Congo.