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Sierra Leone |
JUSTICE
The UN-backed war crimes court in Sierra Leone known as the Special Court, is still hunting down, arresting and trying «those who bear the greatest responsibility for war crimes and crimes against humanity» committed during the country’s eleven-year civil war
Already, several people have been arrested, although the former President of Liberia, Charles Taylor, has been given asylum in Nigeria, and Johnny Paul Koroma, the former leader of the Armed Forces Ruling Council (AFRC) that seized power in Sierra Leone in 1997, is still on the run. Sam «Mosquito» Bockarie, former battlefield commander of the Revolutionary United Front (RUF), and the RUF‘s leader, Foday Saybana Sankoh, are dead. Their deaths have resulted in heated debates within Sierra Leone as to whether the Special Court will still be able to find out more about what happened during the war, since these were key figures in the rebellion.
Leading figures detained by the Special Court belonged to the three warring factions (excluding the West African intervention force [ECOMOG]. These factions were: The pro-government Civil Defence Forces (CDF); renegade soldiers loyal to the ousted AFRC who called themselves the «West Side Boys»; the RUF rebel movement.
A closer look at some of the «personalities»
- Perhaps the most senior of all «wanted» personalities is Johnny Paul Koroma, a former major who promoted himself to Lt. Col. when he became Head of State and leader of the AFRC that briefly seized power briefly in 1997. As mentioned above, he is still at large. There is controversy surrounding where he presently is. The Special Court’s Chief Investigator, Alan White, reported to the local press that he was dead, but the Chief Prosecutor, David Crane, insists that Johnny Paul Koroma is still alive in Liberia where he had sought refuge.
- Foday Saybana Sankoh, alias «Papay», founder and leader of the RUF. He died on 29 July this year at the Choithram Hospital, Freetown. Sankoh’s mental and physical health deteriorated considerably during his trial and he had to be hospitalized.
- Also among those who have been arrested are — Alex Tamba Brima (31), alias «Gullit». He was a sergeant in the Sierra Leone Army. — The AFRC‘s Public Liason Officer, Ibrahim Kamara, (35), alias «Bazzy». He was a former staff-sergeant in the Sierra Leone Army. He is accused of being one of the commanders of the forces that invaded Freetown on 6 January 1999 during which about thousands of people were either killed or maimed; women were gang-raped, and one out of every five houses was burnt down. — Santigie Kanu, alias «Five-Five», a former soldier and a member of the AFRC. He was one of the «Westside Boys» commanders. — Issa Hassan Sesay (32). He became the RUF‘s interim leader when Sankoh was arrested. Under Issa Sesay, the RUF was disarmed and reintegrated into civil society. Many have praised him for his part in ending the war. — Moinina Fofana (53) was director of war operations for the CDF fighters, also known as the «Kamajors». He pleaded not guilty at his hearing on 1 July. — Allieu Kondowa said in court that he could not tell his age because he’s illiterate. He was the CDF‘s «high priest», preparing charms and amulets for the fighters before they went to war. He also pleaded not guilty at his first hearing on 1 July.
Indictments
The charges against war criminals are mainly for: Abducting children and using them as child soldiers; rape, arson, torture, sexual slavery, attacks on UN peacekeepers, amputations and killing of civilians. The Special Court’s initial mandate was to try thirty accused, but nothing has been said about the Court exceeding that number. The main reason limiting the number is that the Special Court only wants to try key figures in the civil war. But it could be that the Court is operating on a limited budget and so cannot try a large number of people. Despite financial constraints, the Court is still hunting down war criminals. On 18 October, at a press conference convened in Freetown, David Crane, said, «The book for more indictments is not yet closed. We are still continuing to investigate». Arms suppliers abroad who had supported the various warring factions, will also be indicted.
Serious constraints
Sierra Leone’s general public are somewhat lukewarm about the way the Court is operating, and in a country where 80% of the population is illiterate, academic approaches in enlightening the public create very little impact. Secondly, there is a suspicion that the Court is pursuing the wishes of the USA. Thirdly, there are those who believe that the past is the past, and details of what took place during the civil war period of Sierra Leone’s history are best forgotten or ignored. Many have been influenced by Sierra Leone’s Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) that «victims should forgive and forget». Observers say that the TRC and the Special Court should not be operating at the same time. Indeed many people don’t know the difference between these two bodies.
It is to be hoped that eventually Sierra Leoneans will come to appreciate the work being done by the Special Court, and that it will serve as a model for future war crimes’ courts in Africa.
- Alpha R. Jalloh, Sierra Leone, October 2003 — © Reproduction authorised, with usual acknowledgment