FREETOWN, Sierra Leone – The UN-backed Special Court for Sierra Leone is currently facing serious financial problems and it may leave the Court completely bankrupt by the end of November 2007.  The Court has applied for $60 million to complete its work by 2009.  Justice George Gelage King, President of the tribunal, has increased efforts to encourage member states to address the financial problems.

The Court was established in 2002 by an agreement between the government of Sierra Leone and the UN with a mandate of trying those with the greatest responsibility for war crimes and crimes against humanity committed after November 30, 1996.

For more information, please see:

AllAfrica.com – Special Court May Go Bankrupt – 17 October 2007

Awareness Times – Special Court faces Financial Crisis in Sierra Leone – 17 October 2007