On Thursday the Special Court for Sierra Leone convicted two former leaders of Sierra Leone’s Civil Defense Force, finding Moinina Fofana and Allieu Kondewa guilty on four counts of “murder, cruel treatment, pillage, and collective punishment.” Kondewa was also found guilty on the charge of conscripting child soldiers under the age of 15. Both defendants were acquitted of crimes against humanity, and are expected to be sentenced in September.
The judgment went into detail on some of the crimes carried out by the militia. They included an order to destroy an entire village treat every person there as a rebel who needed to be killed.
The judge’s verdicts, however, were not unanimous. One judge found both men not guilty on all eight counts. The case against Fofana and Kondewa had been controversial, as some saw the CDF as defending civilians against the rebels during the conflict. Many Sierra Leoneans saw the CDF, also known as the Kamajor militia, as fighting a noble cause to defend the people against brutal rebel groups such as the RUF. When the head of the CDF, Sam Hinga Norman, was indicted four years ago public outcry ensued. He has since died in custody.
The court’s prosecutor, Stephen Rapp, described the trial as “very challenging” and admitted that the indictments had been controversial. However, he stated that while the accused had been motivated by a desire to restore the national government, there was no justification for the crimes that had been committed.
50,000 people were killed, with many more injured and raped during the conflict. The Special Court was created in 2002 and has indicted 13 people, among them former Liberian president Charles Taylor, who allegedly backed rebel forces in order to gain control of the diamond mines. Taylor’s trail is being held at The Hague to prevent unrest in the region. His trial has been delayed until August 20 in order to give more time for his new attorney.
For more information, please see:
Awareness Times – Sierra Leone Judge Dissents with CDJ Judgment – 03 August 2007
Awareness Times – Amnesty International Speaks on Special Court’s Verdict in Sierra Leone – 03 August 2007
Earth Times – 2 Convicted of Sierra Leone War Crimes – 03 August 2007
BBC – Sierra Leone Militia Leaders Convicted – 02 August 2007
Relief Web – Former Sierra Leone Militia Leaders Convicted in War Crimes – 02 August 2007
