FREETOWN, Sierra Leone – In a decision handed down last year, Alex Tamba Brima, Santigie Borbor Kanu, and Brima Bazzy Kamara were sentenced to 50, 50, and 45 years respectivly for eleven counts of war crimes and crimes against humanity. The crimes against the former leaders of the Armed Forces Revolutionary Counsel included rape, terrorism civilians, and abductions. The crimes were committed during the country’s 1991-2002 conflict.

Presiding judge George Gelaga King said he found no reason to reduce the sentences noting that “Women and young girls were gang raped to death. … Sons were forced to rape mothers, brothers were forced to rape sisters” and that “Men were disembowe[l]ed and their intestines stretched across a road to form a barrier. Human heads were placed on sticks on either side of the road to mark such barriers.”

 For more information, please see:

Special Court for Sierra Leon Press Release – Appeals Chamber Upholds Sentences of Convicted AFRC Leaders – 22 February 2008

Reuters – S.Leone court upholds sentences on militia chiefs – 22 February 2008